To prevent the spread of TB in the community through identification
and treatment of active cases and preventive treatment of those with latent
infection.
Services Provided:
- Identification, assessment, and treatment of active TB cases, as
well as consultation on patient case management for chest x-rays, lab
tests, and medicines, either through the Health Department, private
insurance companies, or occupational health services.
- Screening of family members and other close contacts of active TB
cases.
- Consultation to physicians, nursing homes, Colorado State University
Student Health Services, homeless shelters and employers on TB case
management, disease control issues and policy development.
- Follow-up and preventive treatment, when appropriate, for community
members and case contacts with positive skin tests but not active TB.
- Direct observed therapy for active TB cases
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is tuberculosis (TB)?
TB is a contagious disease that is spread from person to person through
the air by droplets of mucous containing the TB germ (tubercle bacilli),
that are coughed up by a person who has active, pulmonary (lung) TB
disease. TB disease may also affect other parts of the body such as
the bones and joints.
- What does it mean if I have a positive skin test?
A positive tuberculin skin test (PPD) means that you have been exposed
and infected with the tuberculin germ, which can remain dormant in your
body without making you ill for many years. In order to find out if
you have the active TB disease (which is contagious), you need to have
additional tests such as a chest x-ray. Anyone who has a positive test
needs to be followed-up by your doctor, or the Health Department.
- What medical treatment is needed to cure active TB?
A combination of medicines must be taken as scheduled for at least 6
- 12 months. Persons with active TB must have a health care worker be
present and observe them while they take their medicines. If all the
medicines are not taken as directed for this period of time, it is likely
that the TB germ could become resistant to the medicines, which means
the drugs are no longer effective in treating the disease. Treatment
must then be started all over again with other, more expensive, less
effective medicines, and taken for at least 2 years. The person could
be contagious with drug resistant TB
- What are the signs and symptoms of active TB?
A person with active TB may have chills, fever, night sweats, chest
pain, prolonged cough which may include coughing up blood. They often
lose weight, have a loss of appetite, and become tired easily. Chest
x-ray and other tests are needed to diagnose the disease.
- Who will help pay for tests and medicines?
The Health Department as well as employers and health insurance will
provide for tests and treatment.
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