Infectious Disease Center

Tuberculosis General Information

Tuberculosis (often called TB) is caused by a tiny organism known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread from person to person through the air. When individuals with TB cough, laugh, sneeze or talk, the germs can be spread into the air. If another person breathes in these germs, there is a chance they will become infected by the TB germ.

back to top

Signs and Symptoms

back to top

Diagnosis and Treatment

A skin test is a way to find out if a person has been exposed to TB. There is more than one type of TB skin test; however, the preferred method is the Mantoux test. For this test, a small amount of testing material is placed just below the top layers of skin, usually on the arm. Two or three days later, a certified nurse examines the arm to see if a bump has developed. If the bump is a certain size, the test is positive and the person has a TB infection. A chest X-ray is done to determine how bad the infection is.

Public Annual TB Screening Service Sites

Due to the increase in TB cases and limited resources, the TB Clinic is no longer offering routine annual TB screening services to the public. Please visit one of the following sites for a TB skin test or annual chest X-ray.

Printable Version

Location	Address	Phone Number	Cost*	Appt./ Walk-In*
MediQwik	6642 St Joe Rd	260 486-1539	$35.00	Appt. and Walk-In
Neighborhood Health Clinic	1717 S Calhoun St	260 458-2641	$15.00	Appt. Only
Parkview Occupational Health	3103 E State Blvd	260 373-9300	$18.00	Walk-In
Redimed	3717 Maplecrest Rd	260 486-7334	$16.00	Walk-In
Redimed	315 E Cook Rd	260 489-8218	$16.00	Walk-In
Redimed	11635 Coldwater Rd	260 637-1661	$16.00	Walk-In
Redimed	7333 W Jefferson Blvd	260 435-7334	$16.00	Walk-In
U.S. HealthWorks	302 E Jefferson Blvd	260 426-2644	$26.00	Walk-In

*Cost is for TB skin test only. Information may be subject to change. Contact site before visiting.

back to top

Tuberculosis Education and Training Materials

FREE courtesy of CDC. Click here to access. Review and order up to date FREE TB literature for your staff and clients on-line, by fax, mail, or phone. Information is sent directly to you, FREE of charge.
Click here for multiple resources in many languages, and addressing many cultures.

Posters

back to top

Other Tuberculosis Resources

back to top

Reportable Communicable Diseases

List of Reportable Communicable Diseases

Hepatitis A

back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

Ø What is the most important thing I can do to protect myself and my family from communicable diseases?

Handwashing! Handwashing! Handwashing!

Handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of infection and it costs less than a penny.

When should you wash:

Before, during and after preparing
Before you eat
After you use the restroom
After handling animals and animal waste
Wash more often when someone in your home is sick.

How should you wash your hands?

Dispense paper towel.
Wet your hands and apply soap.
Rub your hands together, scrubbing all surfaces.
Continue this for 15 seconds
Rinse well and dry with a paper towel.
Turn off the faucet with a paper towel.

Ø Can I get TB from someone with a positive skin test?

It depends . . .

Tuberculosis is passed from one person to another only through sharing the same air with someone who is actually sick with TB disease. This is commonly referred to as “airborne” transmission.

Someone with a positive skin test who is sick with TB would likely have any combination of the following symptoms of TB:

Weakness
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Chills
Fever
Night sweats
Cough
Coughing up blood
Chest pain
Shortness of breath

A person who has a positive skin test, a normal chest x-ray, and no symptoms of TB has latent TB infection. This is not a contagious infection and you can’t catch TB from this person. An individual with this infection can be treated with an antibiotic which should prevent them from ever becoming sick with TB disease.

Ø Where can I get a TB skin test or chest x-ray for school, work, foster parent requirements, etc., and why doesn't the health department offer this anymore?

The Department of Health no longer offers TB skin tests as a routine service to the public. As the community’s only program dedicated to the surveillance of TB and treatment of individuals with active and latent TB infection, resources have been allocated to reach the highest priority activities related to TB Control and Prevention as determined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Listed below in descending order are the top 3 priorities:

Identify and treat all persons with active TB disease.
Identify contacts to persons with active, infectious TB; evaluate and offer therapy as appropriate.
Test high-priority groups for latent TB infections and offer therapy as appropriate.

Routine skin testing for TB for educational, residential, or professional purposes does not fall into any of the highest priority activities for TB Control and Prevention.

Allen County is fortunate to have a system of health care providers who can provide routine TB screening services including TB skin tests and chest x-rays to those in need of a for “requirement” purposes. Please see the link below for a list of providers offering TB skin testing services to the public.

Public TB Screening Service Sites

back to top