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What is tuberculosis (too-burr-cue-low-sis) (TB)?
How would I get TB?
What are the types of TB?
Who is more likely to get TB disease?
What are the tests for TB?
Is there medicine for TB?
If I have TB disease, can I give it to other people?
I'm pregnant and found out I have TB. Is it safe to take medicine while I'm
pregnant?
Can I breastfeed if I am taking pills for TB disease?
I just found out that I'm pregnant. It's great news! I also found out that I have active tuberculosis (TB). I've been really tired, but I thought it was just my busy job. I also had this cough that wouldn't go away. Sometimes, blood would come out when I'd cough. My doctor gave me pills to take. I wanted to wait to take the pills until after I have the baby. But the doctor said the pills won't hurt my baby. She also said that if I don't take the pills, the baby could get sick. I've been taking them for a little while now. I think everything will be ok.
TB is a disease caused by bacteria (bak-teer-ee-uh) or germs. It can hurt any part of your body. But it normally hurts your lungs.
TB is spread in the air. If someone with TB in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, people nearby who breathe in the germs may get TB.
TB is NOT spread in these ways:
Inactive TB. You have the TB germs, but it doesn't make you sick.
People with inactive TB
Many carry the TB germs in their bodies and never get sick from them. But if someone who carries the germs becomes weak from other health problems, the TB germs may become active TB disease.
Active TB. You have the TB germs, and they are growing. If this happens in your lungs, you can have these symptoms:
You are more likely to get TB disease if you:
A skin test is the main way to find out if you have the TB germs. With a needle, a small amount of liquid is put under your skin on the lower part of your arm. After 2 or 3 days, if you have a hard bump on your arm, your doctor will measure the bump and tell you if your test is positive or negative. If your test is positive, you most likely have TB germs.
If your skin test is positive, these tests will be done to see if you have active TB disease:
TB can be found in other parts of your body besides your lungs. So you may have other tests too.
If you carry TB germs (inactive TB), your doctor may ask you to take a pill called Isoniazid for six to nine months. While nine months is preferred, six months may be enough. This is a long time and may not be easy to do, but it’s best to protect your health. The pills will most likely prevent active TB disease, although this is not 100% sure. If you already have active TB disease, your doctor will prescribe pills for six months or longer. You must take all prescribed medicine to cure the disease and prevent it from spreading to others. If you do not take the medicines, you can die from active TB.
If you have active TB in your lungs or throat, you can give it to other people. You need to stay home from work or school. Visit your doctor. Your doctor will give you tests and then tell you when it's ok to go back. That may be 2 to 3 weeks after you start taking the pills.
Protect your family. Take these steps to prevent giving TB to them:
Yes, there are pills you can take for TB while you're pregnant. If you have active TB, you will need to take pills for 9 months. But do NOT take Streptomycin. It is NOT safe.
If you have inactive TB, your doctor probably won't give you pills until after you have the baby. Some women may have to take pills before the baby is born. It depends on when you got TB and if you have other health problems, like HIV.
Yes, it is safe to breastfeed your baby if you are taking pills for active TB. The small amount of medicine that gets into your breastmilk does not hurt your baby.
You can find out more about TB by contacting the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) (800) 994-WOMAN (9662) or the following organizations:
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Internet Address: www.niaid.nih.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
Internet Address: www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)
Phone Number(s): 800-458-5231
Internet Address: www.cdcnpin.org/scripts/tb
American Lung Association
Phone Number(s): 212-315-8700
Internet Address: www.lungusa.org
The TB FAQ was reviewed by Jean Nachega, MD, MPH, Assistant Scientist, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health.
All material contained in the FAQs is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services; citation of the source is appreciated.
September 2004
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