Te mate kohi Tuberculosis

You can only catch tuberculosis from someone who has tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat. They can spread the bacteria when they cough, sneeze, speak or sing near others. 

People living in the same house as someone with tuberculosis disease are most at risk of catching it. Tuberculosis is not easily spread and it takes hours of close contact to catch it from someone who has the disease.

Tuberculosis is not spread through contact with household items, for example, cutlery, cups, drinking glasses, phones, clothing.

Most people who become infected with the TB bacteria do not develop active TB disease because the body's immune system defences control the infection, so the bacteria are dormant or inactive. This is called latent TB infection.

In some people, TB bacteria can overcome the body's immune system defences and progress to active TB disease. This can happen soon after infection, or years later when the immune system becomes weak and may be due to:

• ageing
• serious illness
• stressful events
• drug or alcohol misuse
• HIV infection or other conditions.

Latent tuberculosis infection

People with latent TB infection:

• are not sick with TB symptoms
• are not infectious and cannot spread TB to others
• have a 1 in 10 chance of developing active TB disease.

Latent tuberculosis infection (internal link)

Tuberculosis disease — active TB

People with TB disease:

• can infect others if the bacteria is in their lungs (pulmonary TB) or throat
• are not infectious (cannot spread the bacteria) if bacteria is in other parts of the their body (extrapulmonary TB), that are not lungs or throat
• can continue with normal activities while on treatment (when no longer infectious if the bacteria in the lungs or throat).

If you have tuberculosis disease you may experience:

• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• fever
• sweating (especially at night)
• feeling weak or tired all the time
• swollen neck glands
• pain in parts of the body that are infected.

If the disease is also in your lungs or throat you may also:

• have an ongoing cough for 3 weeks or more
• cough or split up blood
• experience chest pains or shortness of breath.

If you have latent tuberculosis infection you will not have any symptoms.

People are more at risk of developing tuberculosis disease if they have a weak immune system. This may include:

• babies and young children
• older people
• people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney failure, cancer or HIV
• people taking immune suppressing medication
• people who smoke or live with alcoholism.

If you have symptoms you are worried about call:

• your usual doctor or healthcare provider
• Healthline for free advice on 0800 611 116

Tuberculosis can be treated with special antibiotics taken for at least 6 months. A public health nurse will:

• supply the medication
• provide support and education
• monitor for any side effects during treatment. 

You will also have regular appointments with a TB specialist doctor.

People on TB treatment:

• should take all their TB medicines exactly as prescribed, without missing doses or stopping early
• can be cured if they complete treatment
• can return to normal activities while on treatment, as long as they are no longer infectious
• usually begin to feel better 2 to 4 weeks after starting treatment.

If you have tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat you will need to isolate so you do not infect others. After a few weeks of taking tuberculosis medicine you can stop isolating and return to your usual daily activities. As long as you take the medication you will not risk passing on the disease to others. 

If you have tuberculosis in other parts of your body, or you have latent tuberculosis infection, you do not need to isolate and can continue with your usual daily activities. However, it is still important to take your tuberculosis medicine as guided by your Public Health Nurse. 

Tuberculosis disease close contacts

People who have been in close contact of someone with tuberculosis disease of the lungs or throat may be at risk of catching the disease. A public health professional will get in touch with you if you need to get tested. 

Testing for close contacts

The tuberculosis test is free for people referred by a public health professional. The test varies depending on someone's age. 

• Young children have a Mantoux test. This involves receiving a small injection, which is then check 3 days later to measure your skin's reaction.
  Tuberculin skin test — Healthify (external link)
• Older children and adults have a blood test called Quantiferon.

After you receive you test you will receive further information from the Public Health Nurse on what you need to do next.

In Aotearoa a tuberculosis vaccine is available for free to babies and young children under 5 who are at higher risk of catching the disease.

This is called the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. It protects young children against some of the most dangerous forms of the disease.

Tuberculosis vaccine (internal link)

Tuberculosis is a notifiable disease. This means that healthcare providers or laboratories will inform public health when someone has it. This way, we can monitor how many people are sick and prevent the spread of the disease.

Key activities include:

• support for people with tuberculosis in the community, to help ensure a full recovery for what can be a long course of treatment
• providing assessment, testing and advice for family members and other close contacts
• immunisation of babies and children with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine — this is available to those under 5 years of age who are at high risk of tuberculosis.