What Is TB? How Did My Child Catch TB?

Tuberculosis “TB” Disease in Children

What is TB? How did my child catch TB?

“TB” is short for a disease called Tuberculosis. The tuberculosis bacillus is a tiny germ

that is spread through the air when someone with contagious disease spreads the germ

by coughing, laughing, singing, or sometimes by speaking. The germ can then be breathed in and travel to the lungs where it multiplies. The germ is thenspread throughout the child’s body. TB can attack any part of the body such as thelymph nodes, kidneys, brain or bones. The areas most commonly affected in childrenare the lungs and lymph nodes. If untreated, TB can be fatal. You cannot get TB from

someone’s drinking glass, clothes, toilet or by kissing.

What is the treatment for TB?

Your child will have to take at least three medications for the first two month of

treatment. Then they will take two medications for the next 4 – 10 months.

A total of 6 – 12 months of treatment is needed depending on where the TB germ

settles. The medication should cure your child if taken as prescribed. Taking the medication irregularly and/or skipping days can cause the TB germ to build resistance to the medication so that it will not be effective in killing the germs. As a service to families, the medication usually is provided by the Health Department and is given twice weekly at your home. The personnel giving the medication are trained by the Health Department. They will monitor for side effects as well as administer the medication. In some school districts school nurses can give the medication. If you are going to be out of town or away on vacation, please let the health care personnel know in advance so that special arrangements can be made for your child to receive the medication as prescribed.

Tuberculosis Disease in Children continued

Is my child contagious? Can my child go to school?

Children under the age of 12 years with TB are rarely contagious. In young children TB is notcontagious for two reasons: (1) children rarely produce sputum and when they do, thenumber of TB germs growing in the sputum is much smaller than seen in adults with TB;(2) many children with TB are not sick with a cough which occurs more frequently in adults. Remember, TB is a germ spread through the air when someone with contagious disease coughs the germ into the air. Even when children docough, they do not have the ability to cough up the TB germ from their lungs and spread it to other people. Because of these factors children under the age of 12 years are rarely considered contagious and may return to school or daycare once treatment has started. Children over the age of 12 years with TB can be contagious because their disease is more like TB in adults. They must be on medication for a period of time and cleared by the doctor before they can return to school.

DEVELOPED BY THE PEDIATRIC TUBERCULOSIS TEAM

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, HOUSTON MEDICAL SCHOOL

1-800-LUNG-USA