State of Rhode Island
Department of Health
Tuberculosis, Mycobacteriosis is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. The bacteria can cause two types of illness, latent or active. TB is latent when the body's immune system forms a wall around the TB bacteria so they cannot multiple or spread. A person with latent TB has no symptoms. People can have latent TB for long periods of time. If a person with latent TB does not get treatment, the TB bacteria can "activate" and cause disease, often if the person's health declines due to sickness, stress, or aging. Active TB is when the body cannot adequately fight the TB bacteria and the person has symptoms.
TB is spread from one person to another through the air. When someone with active TB disease in the lungs or throat coughs, sings, or even speaks, TB bacteria can be released into the air where it can stay in the air for hours. Someone who breathes in the TB bacteria, is exposed, and may get either latent infection or active disease. You cannot get TB from someone's clothes, drinking glass, handshake or toilet.
If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should get a skin test. Individuals with a positive TB skin test should also get additional tests as recommended by their healthcare provider. You should ask your healthcare provider about being tested for TB if you:
If you have active active TB in your lungs, you should be treated and kept away from other people until you are no longer at-risk of spreading it. Treatment, as with latent TB may take several months.
If you have latent TB you should be evaluated to see which specific treatment is right for you - usually one medication for several months.
The Department of Health helps support two TB clinics in Rhode Island the RISE Clinic, the state's TB specialty clinic and the Hasbro TB Clinic, a pediatric clinic. These clinics provide diagnostic testing (chest x-rays, bacteriology tests), and medications that treat TB. more