Tuberculosis

TB disease develops slowly in the body, and it usually takes several months for symptoms to appear.
Any of the following symptoms may suggest TB:

• Persistent cough that gets worse and lasts more than three weeks
• Fever and night sweats
• Feeling unusually tired or ill
• Unexplained weight loss
• Not wanting to eat
• Coughing up blood

If you are concerned that you might have TB because you develop any of these symptoms, contact your appropriate Medical Centre or GP for advice.

The TB germ is usually spread in the air and is quite difficult to catch. Usually it requires prolonged or repeated contact with a person with infectious TB. Even then, not everyone who is infected with bacteria causing TB will develop TB disease.
The following people have a greater chance of becoming ill with TB if exposed to it:

• Those in very close contact with infectious people
• Children
• Elderly people
• Diabetics
• People on steroids
• People on other drugs affecting the body’s defense system
• People who are HIV-positive
• People in overcrowded, poor housing
• People who are dependent on drugs or alcohol
• People with chronic poor health

Most people who have TB infection will never develop TB disease. In these people, the TB bacteria can remain inactive for a prolonged period, or a lifetime, without causing disease. This is called latent TB infection. But in other people (for example, those who have weak immune systems), the bacteria may become active and cause TB disease.

People with latent TB infection:

• Have no symptoms
• Do not feel unwell
• Cannot spread TB to other people
• Can develop TB disease later in life

In almost every case TB can be cured, but only if the full course of antibiotic treatment is taken as prescribed for a minimum of six months. People with TB disease rarely go into hospital for treatment although they may be admitted very briefly to confirm the diagnosis and to start their treatment.

Patients are usually non-infectious after two weeks of treatment

Treatment is vital. If you have been prescribed treatment, for TB disease, or infection, you must take the treatment as directed. It is very important to complete the full course of treatment, as it will stop you being infectious, and it will remove the risk of you developing drug-resistant TB. Untreated TB disease can lead to death.

If you think you have been in contact with someone with infectious TB, but you have not been invited for screening, discuss this with your GP in the first instance. When someone is diagnosed with TB disease, the local chest clinic staff will assess the risk posed to other people. If a person is infectious then close contacts will be invited for screening. Close contacts are people living in the same household and close family members. Sometimes casual contacts such as University colleagues and friends may be invited for screening, but this often is not necessary.

You may be asked to make an appointment with your local chest clinic. Sometimes a TB nurse or chest diseases health visitor will contact you first (they will have a list of close contacts). The nurse will arrange a skin test and/or chest x-ray. This does not mean that you have TB, but it is a chance to check for any symptoms, so it is very important that you do attend, if asked.

Contact your Medical Centre or GP

In the event of a confirmed diagnosis of TB, it would also be helpful for you to tell one of the following:

• Your Head of School
• Campus Head of Student Centre
• Accommodation Manager if you are in halls
• Suzanna Stein, Head of Welfare and Student Support, tel: 0208 331 9661

You should take the medical advice that is given to you if you have TB disease. Your Doctor will tell you when you are able to return to your studies. Do not return before this date as you could compromise the health of others.

TB is a notifiable disease and the Health Protection Agency should be informed of all cases. They will meet with key University staff to discuss any possible follow up of close contacts. Usually there will need to be a minimum delay of 6 weeks between last exposure  exposure and screening, in line with national expert guidance.