Tuberculosis (TB)

    Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs but can attack any part of the body. It is one of the leading causes of death worldwide but is less common in the United States. It is a curable disease, but treatment takes many months.

    A tuberculosis infection does not always mean that you will get sick. There are two forms of TB:


    Latent TB infection—TB bacteria can live in your body without making you sick. Your body can fight the bacteria and prevent it from growing. If you have a latent infection, you do not have symptoms and cannot spread the disease. However, your TB infection is at risk of becoming active TB disease if you do not get treatment.


    Active TB disease—TB bacteria are active in your body and your immune system is not able to stop the bacteria from growing. You have symptoms, usually feel sick, and can spread the bacteria to others.

    Both forms of tuberculosis need treatment, which is available through the Hays County Health Department.

    • Tuberculosis Symptoms

      Symptoms of TB disease depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs (pulmonary TB). TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:

      • a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
      • pain in the chest
      • coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)

      Other symptoms of TB disease are: 

      • weakness or fatigue
      • weight loss
      • no appetite
      • chills
      • fever
      • sweating at night

      Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.


      People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others.


      Information provided by CDC


    • Tuberculosis Reporting and Referrals

      TB is a notifiable condition in Texas.


      Tuberculosis Disease (known/suspected): Reportable within 1 working day

      • Reportable tuberculosis disease includes the following: suspected tuberculosis disease pending final laboratory results; positive nucleic acid amplification tests; clinically or laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis disease; and all Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) complex including M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, M. canettii, M. microti, M. caprae, and M. pinnipedii.

      Tuberculosis Infection: Reportable within 1 week

      • TB infection is determined by a positive result from an FDA-approved Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test such as T-Spot TB or QuantiFERON - TB GOLD In-Tube Test or a tuberculin skin test, and a normal chest radiograph with no presenting symptoms of TB disease. 

      Please include documentation of all results and report skin test results in millimeters.
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