Tuberculosis Cases Are Rising—Should You Get the TB Vaccine?
With cases surging, experts share who should get vaccinated and how to protect yourself from infection
Tuberculosis is making headlines as the contagious respiratory disease spreads in the Midwest. Kansas is currently facing one of the largest recorded outbreaks in United States history, according to local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The good news: tuberculosis is both preventable and treatable. Here, doctors share everything to know about who should get the vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) and how it can protect your health, plus what symptoms look like.
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is an infectious respiratory disease caused by bacteria that typically affects the lungs, but can also impact other organs. It’s transmitted through the air when people with TB cough, sneeze or sing—though not from sharing food, shaking hands or kissing, the CDC reports. Also, babies and children are at a higher risk of developing TB.
In some cases, tuberculosis germs can live in the body for years without ever making someone sick or being contagious. This is called a latent or dormant TB infection. Without treatment, a latent TB infection can develop into an active TB infection that is contagious, causes symptoms and requires medical treatment.
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Symptoms of tuberculosis
Someone with an active TB infection who is contagious may display symptoms such as:
- Prolonged cough (sometimes with blood—often the telltale sign)
- Chest pain
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Night sweats
Who should get the tuberculosis vaccine?
With cases of TB on the rise, you’re likely wondering how to protect yourself. The problem? The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine for tuberculosis is usually not recommended in the U.S. for adults.
“The TB vaccine is mainly given to babies and small children in countries where TB is common,” says Tess Karre, MD, FCAP, a member of the College of American Pathologists’ Microbiology Committee. “It helps protect against severe forms of the disease such as when it involves the brain or spreads throughout the entire body.”
In the U.S., the vaccine isn’t used often because TB is rare, and other methods, like testing and antibiotics, are used to control it, Dr. Karre explains. However, some people might still benefit from getting the tuberculosis vaccine, such as:
- Children who are continually exposed through a family or household member with active TB and who cannot receive preventive treatment for TB infection.
- Healthcare workers who work in settings with a high risk of exposure to bacteria strains that are resistant to TB antibiotics.
Could tuberculosis vaccination recommendations change?
Dr. Karre believes it is unlikely that the U.S. will adjust its BCG vaccination guidelines in the near future. Despite the current tuberculosis outbreak, the disease has not reached the level of endemicity in this country necessary to make the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the costs and risks, she explains.
How doctors test for tuberculosis
As Dr. Karre stated, the best way to manage TB and prevent a latent infection from developing into an active infection is through early diagnosis and treatment.
You should seek medical care if you have any of the symptoms listed above—specifically night sweats or coughing up blood, says Lily Grobman, PA, a MinuteMed Contributor. Screening for tuberculosis annually is very important for people who work in high-risk populations, she adds.
“Currently, due to the outbreak of tuberculosis in Kansas, we strongly recommend anyone living there who is at high risk or experiencing symptoms be tested,” Grobman says. “Consider online services such as labfinder.com for searching for various test sites. Early intervention is key in preventing further spreading of the highly contagious bacteria.”
There are two common TB tests to help diagnose the condition:During a tuberculin skin test (TST), a small amount of the TB protein is injected under the skin and evaluated 48 hours later to see if the area becomes raised.
A QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test (QFT), or IGRA test, is a blood test that examines how your immune system reacts when a sample of your blood is mixed with TB proteins.
What happens if you test positive for TB?
“Once there is a positive TB result, a chest x-ray will be done to detect any active disease,”Grobman says. “Both active and latent tuberculosis will need to be treated, but with different medication regimens.”
Your doctor will prescribe one or more medications to treat a tuberculosis infection. Active infections are typically treated for four, six or nine months, while latent infections may be treated for three to four months, the Mayo Clinic reports.
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