Minority Women's Health

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Tuberculosis (TB)

Minority Women's Health > Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians > Health Topics > Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that can affect any part of your body, but it usually attacks your lungs. TB is spread through the air. If someone with TB of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes, people nearby who breathe in the bacteria can get TB. If your body can't stop the bacteria from growing, you will develop TB disease. If this happens and the TB is in the lungs, it can cause these symptoms:

• a bad cough that won't go away (with blood or phlegm)
• chest pain
• fatigue (feeling very tired)
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• chills
• fever
• night sweats

If you think you may have TB, see your doctor right away. TB can be treated and cured.

In 2005, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders had the highest TB rates of any group in the U.S. The TB case rate in 2005 for this group was almost 20 times higher than the rate for Whites. The good news is that TB case rates for Asian Americans decreased 14 percent between 2003 and 2005, which was almost double the decrease seen in African Americans and Hispanic Americans/Latinas.

Publications

1.   Questions and Answers About TB — This booklet gives thorough yet easy-to-understand explanations of tuberculosis (TB), how it is spread, latent TB infection and active TB disease, as well as information on how to prevent spreading TB.

   http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/faqs/default.htm

2.     Tuberculosis: Getting Healthy, Staying Healthy — This easy-to-read booklet explains tuberculosis and how it is spread, diagnosed, and treated.

   http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/tuberculosis/Understanding/PDF/TB.pdf

3. Tuberculosis (Copyright © American Lung Association) — This publication discusses the difference between TB infection and TB disease, symptoms of TB, modes of transmission, testing, and innovative treatment options.

   http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/tuberculosis/

4. Tuberculosis Fact Sheets and Brochures by Language — These translated brochures discuss tuberculosis disease and infection, as well as tests for and treatment of tuberculosis. Translated materials are available in Amharic, Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tibetan, and Vietnamese.

   http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/tb/factsheets/translations.html...

Organizations

1.   Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, NCHSTP, CDC, OPHS, HHS
2.   National Prevention Information Network, CDC, HHS
3.   Office of Minority Health, OPHS, OS, HHS
4. American Association for Respiratory Care
5. American Lung Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Resources reviewed March 2008.