Tuberculosis

What is Tuberculosis?

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.
• The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.
• TB germs are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.
• People with latent TB infection have TB germs in their bodies, but they are not sick because the germs are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the germs to others. However, they may develop TB disease in the future. They are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB disease.
• People with TB disease are sick from TB germs that are active, meaning that they are multiplying and destroying tissue in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB disease. People with TB disease of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading germs to others. They are prescribed drugs that can treat TB disease.

State Requirements for International Students

• All international students coming to Indiana State university are required to have a Quantiferon blood test for Tuberculosis.
• The blood test is drawn in the lab at the Student Health Center on Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
• The results will come to the Student Health Center and the international student will be notified. If the result is positive, the student will be required to have a chest x-ray and further lab work.
• If the chest x-ray rules out active disease the student will receive medication to be taken daily for a period of 12 weeks.
• If the chest finds active diseases the Student Health Center will conduct required follow up activities with the Vigo County Health Department to determine if indeed it is a case of active TB.