Tuberculosis (Active TB/ Latent TB)
- Testing and treatment for TB is free to everyone living in this country, regardless of their immigration status.
- There are two types of tuberculosis – active TB and Latent TB Infection (LTBI)
- TB can affect any part of the body including the lungs and the brain
- If TB is found in the lungs or throat it is infectious, and can be passed on to others such as friends and family.
- It is harder to catch than a cold, typically 8 hours close contact, or ongoing contact such as in a family home or work place
- TB is treatable typically with a 6 months course of antibiotics
- You can have TB more than once.
- The TB vaccination can protect against the most severe forms of TB and is often give as a baby to protect when vulnerable, but you can still get infected with TB.
- If the TB team, ask you to attend an appointment for a TB screen because you have been in contact with someone with infectious TB you should go to the appointment to get screened even if you feel fit and well.
- If you are diagnosed with infectious TB, the TB nurse will ask you about your work, school and lifestyle so that they can assess if someone has made you unwell or whether a friend, family member or other contact needs to be screened for TB. It is important that you answer truthfully to protect these important people, please do not worry the TB team will update and discuss this with you.
Common symptoms of TB include:
- a cough for three weeks or longer
- weight loss
- high temperature or fever
- drenching night sweats
- swollen Lymph Glands
- extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
If you have TB symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your GP to discuss your symptoms
Latent TB Infection new migrant screening programme
- Sometimes you can have TB but have no symptoms and are not infectious this is called latent TB infection
- If you are eligible, you will be contacted by the TB team to have a free Latent TB Infection test.
- You may have had a chest x-ray prior to arriving in the UK, this does not spot Latent TB only active TB.
Who can have a test for Latent TB?
- Those who have arrived in the UK within the last 5 years
- Are aged between 16-35 years
- Are from a country with a high incidence of TB
Afghanistan; Angola; Bangladesh; Bhutan; Botswana; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo (Republic of the); DR Congo; Djibouti; Equatorial Guinea; Eswatini; Gabon; Gambia; Greenland; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Kenya; DPR Korea; Kiribati; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Mongolia; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Nigeria; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vietnam; Zambia; Zimbabwe. Source: World Health Organisation (WHO), 2020