1. Latent TB as a health priority in Reading
21st November
12-3pm

2. What is TB? An illness caused by bacteria
Most commonly affects lungs but you can get TB in any part of the body
Can cause serious illness that can result in death if untreated
BUT… TB is treatable and curable

3. What are the symptoms of TB?
Cough (3 weeks or more)
Weight loss
Fever
Night sweats
Extreme tiredness
Loss of appetite
Swollen glands
Breathlessness
Coughing up blood
DO NO have to have them all

4. How is TB caught?
Someone with TB in the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes 
TB bacteria get into the air 
Bacteria are breathed in by other people
Prolonged close contact necessary (e.g. living together)
TB is NOT spread by spitting or sharing objects such as cups/plates/sheesha pipes
You are unlikely to get TB sitting next to a person with TB on a bus or a train

5. What about latent TB?
If you breathe in TB bacteria, one of three things will happen:
your body kills off the TB bacteria so they cannot harm you now or in the future
the TB bacteria make you ill – this is called ‘active TB’
the TB bacteria remain asleep in your body – this is called ‘latent TB’
So you could have TB and feel completely fit and healthy!!
BUT…
(e.g. through illness, stress, poor housing or nutrition)

6. What about latent TB?
Very few people who breathe in TB bacteria become ill straight away
If you are in good health, your immune system is likely to remove all the TB bacteria that you breathe in.
If it is unable to do this, it may be able to stop you from becoming ill by forcing the bacteria into a latent (sleeping) state
The bacteria are still in your body, but they are not causing damage.
However, latent TB bacteria can ‘wake up’ and become active in the future, making you ill.
This can happen many years after you first breathe in TB bacteria.
Latent TB bacteria are more likely to wake up if you experience lifestyle stresses or other illnesses that weaken your immune system.
This is the cause of most cases of active TB in the UK
Latent TB can be effectively treated with a 3 month course of antibiotics in most cases
Around 1 in 10 people with latent TB will develop active TB
Sometimes up to 6 months treatment

7. How is TB treated?
Active TB – four or more medicines over at least six months
Latent TB – one or two medicines over three to six months
TB testing and treatment is free and does not affect your right to stay in UK

8. Can anyone get TB?
Yes! (including Nelson Mandela, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ringo Starr, Florence Nightingale, Desmond Tutu…)
Some things put you at higher risk…
Poor housing conditions
Poor nutrition
Stress and ill health (e.g. diabetes, HIV)
Drugs and alcohol
Having links to areas of the world where TB is common, such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia or Eastern Europe

9. Where is TB most common?
Tuberculosis cases

10. How common is TB in England?

11. TB as a priority in Reading
Remember that 1 in 10 of these people will get active TB and become unwell

12. TB as a priority in Reading

13. TB as a priority in Reading
Across Berkshire, the majority of cases were born in India (n=416), Pakistan (n=247), UK (n=224) or Nepal (n=97).
Few cases in Berkshire have social risk factors when compared to the rest of England ( % vs %)

15. What to do if you think you or someone you know might have TB
If you think you might have TB symptoms you should visit your GP, who will refer you to see a TB nurse
If you are very unwell – go to A&E
Tests might include a chest x-ray, sputumn (spit) test and blood tests

16. Preventing TB Training
Thursday 5th January 2017, Shenai Centre London Rd Reading RG1 4QA pm
Or Thursday 26th January 2017, Copthorne Hotel Slough SL1 2YE pm
for application form. Tel:
Suitable for health professionals or public working with communities with a high incidence of TB in Reading or Slough

17. Any questions? www.tbalert.org www.thetruthabouttb.org