Tuberculosis Screening & Prevention
What is TB?
“TB” is short for a disease called tuberculosis. TB germs are passed through the air when someone who is sick with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, laughs, sings, or sneezes. People near the sick person with TB disease can breathe TB germs into their lungs.
TB germs can live in your body without making you sick. This is called latent TB infection. This means you have only inactive (sleeping) TB germs in your body. The inactive germs cannot be passed on to anyone else. However, if these germs wake up or become active in your body and multiply, you will get sick with TB disease.
Can TB be treated?
TB disease can be treated by taking medicine. If you have TB disease, it is very important that you finish the medicine, and take the drugs exactly as you are told. If you stop taking the drugs too soon, you can become sick again. If you do not take the drugs correctly, the germs that are still alive may become difficult to treat with those drugs. It takes at least six months and possibly as long as one year to kill all the TB germs.
It is very important that you take your medicine as your doctor recommends.
Health Department TB Clinic Services
TB Testing
We offer Quantiferon Gold testing and 1 and 2 Step Tb skin testing. Tb skin testing is often required for employments and school entrance.
Medication Appointments
Close contacts and others found infected with Latent TB Infection may be given medication to treat this condition.
Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)
- Medications and other direct care services to Active TB patients
- Outreach services to families and close contacts of Active TB patients by checking them for disease and exposure
- Medications if needed
We accept Medicaid and most managed care plans, Medicare and some private insurance.
Education
Our staff serves as a primary TB resource and guidance for TB surveillance, reporting requirements, infection control practices and treatment guidelines for Bureau, Putnam and Marshall Counties.
Additional TB resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
To Schedule an Appointment for TB Screening call:
Bureau County: (815) 872-5091
Putnam County: (815) 872-2324
Marshall County: (309) 246-8074
Departments