Tuberculosis

What is it

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most frequently affects the lungs, but it may also affect the brain, spine, kidney, lymph nodes or bones.¹

Who is at risk

The disease is rare in Israel.³
However, there is a higher risk in the following situations:²

Contact with a person with tuberculosis
Past diagnosis of TB with incomplete treatment
Use of illegal inhaled or injected drugs, which weaken the immune system
Living or working in areas with a high rate of TB
Visiting or being born in a country with a high rate of TB
Conditions such as HIV, AIDS, silicosis, kidney disease requiring dialysis, diabetes
Drug treatments that affect the immune system

What are the symptoms

Approximately 10% of those exposed to TB will develop active tuberculosis. In severe cases, the disease may lead to death if untreated. The symptoms of active TB include:²

a bad cough that lasts longer than two weeks
coughing up blood or phlegm
chest pain
weakness or tiredness
weight loss or lack of appetite
chills, fever and night sweats

The other 90% of those infected with TB do not develop the disease. This is called latent tuberculosis. These people do not feel sick, have symptoms or spread TB to others.²

How is it spread

TB is spread when a person comes in contact with expelled droplets from the lungs or airways of an infected person. This can happen through coughing, sneezing, singing, playing a wind instrument or, to a lesser extent, talking. A person must breathe in the TB bacteria to be infected.²

How is it prevented

The disease is rare in Israel, therefore, the possibility of contracting it is low. Most of the infection is by staying for a long time in a closed place with a patient who secretes the bacteria. However, the risk of infection cannot be completely prevented for two main reasons:

Tuberculosis bacteria are secreted by the patient into the air.
The patient may not yet know he or she has tuberculosis.³

In Israel today, it is not common to vaccinate the entire population with the TB vaccine (BCG), but only a few groups of high-risk population. Therefore, the BCG vaccine is not used for the general public in the country.³

Travelers to countries with high rates of TB are also recommended to visit a health care provider or travel health clinic six weeks before leaving. Anyone whose workplace may involve exposure to TB will have an infection prevention and control program in place.²

How is it treated

Tuberculosis is treatable and can be cured with antibiotics.²
For further information regarding tuberculosis and testing, please speak with your healthcare provider or visit a travel health clinic..

REFERENCES