Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lungs but can also affect any part of the body. Tuberculosis is preventable, treatable and curable.
About Tuberculosis
Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Coughing for more than 3 weeks
- Chest pain
Only a small percentage of people who are infected with TB become sick and experience symptoms.
Those who are infected:
- But do not have symptoms are said to have latent TB infection
- And are experiencing symptoms and who have laboratory tests as proof are said to have the active TB disease
Tuberculosis is contagious but is not easily spread from one person to another:
- It is spread through the air when people who have the active disease in their lungs cough, sneeze, speak or sing
- People who are nearby may breathe in the bacteria and become infected
- To become infected, you must have close and prolonged contact with someone who has the active disease in their lungs
What York Region Does
York Region’s Tuberculosis Control Program offers the following services:
- Identifies and treats all cases of TB disease
- Evaluates and follows-up with close contacts of those who have been exposed to TB and encourages treatment for latent TB infection
- Screens high-risk members of the population for TB
- Provides publicly funded medication for persons with TB
- Follows up individuals on immigration medical surveillance for TB
- Provides TB contact screening in schools or workplaces where someone has been diagnosed with TB of the lung
- Provides daily nursing visits to those infected with TB to:
- Ensure they receive and take their TB medicines
- Watch them for side effects
- Give them social support or referrals to other agencies
- Provides education and consultation, including:
- TB information/education sessions to the community groups and to workplaces
- Consultation with community partners for policy development
Contact York Region Public Health
For information about our services or to speak to a public health nurse, please contact our Tuberculosis Intake Line at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76000.
Related Resources
External Resources
- Canadian Lung Association
- Canadian Tuberculosis Standards (8th Edition)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Curry International Tuberculosis Center
- Lung Health Foundation
- Mantoux Skin Test Instructional Presentation - Contact us for a copy of the DVD
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- STOP-TB
- TST in 3 D - An interactive web site to help physicians determine if patient needs to be on TB infection treatment
- West Park Healthcare Centre Inpatient Referral Form
- World Health Organization (WHO)