Tuberculosis (TB)What Increases Your Risk People are at increased
risk of infection with
tuberculosis (TB) when they: - Have close contact (such as living in the same
house) with someone who has active TB, which can be spread to others. Active TB
is very contagious.
- Are health professionals who may care for
people with untreated TB.
- Live or work in crowded conditions where they can come into
contact with people who may have untreated active TB. This includes people who
live or work in prisons, nursing homes, military barracks, or homeless
shelters.
- Have poor access to health care, such as homeless people,
migrant farm workers, or people who abuse alcohol or drugs.
- Travel
to or from regions where untreated TB is common, such as Latin America
(countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean), Africa, Asia,
Eastern Europe, and Russia.
People who have an infection that cannot spread to others
(latent TB infection) are at risk of developing active
TB if they: - Have an
impaired immune system. The immune system may be
weakened in older adults, newborns, women who have recently given birth, and
people who have
HIV infection, some cancers, or poorly controlled
diabetes.
- Have poor access to health care, such as homeless people, migrant
farm workers, or people who abuse alcohol or drugs.
- Take some types
of medicines, such as long-term
corticosteroids, tumor necrosis factor-alpha
antagonists (used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis or
Crohn's disease), or medicines to prevent rejection of
a transplanted organ.
- Have a chronic lung disease caused by breathing in tiny sand or
silica particles (silicosis) or
celiac disease.2
- Have had gastric bypass surgery or a gastrectomy.
- Are
10% or more under their healthy body weight.
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| | Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: April 23, 2009 | | Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology | © 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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