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Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program |
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What is TB?
TB is a contagious disease caused by TB germs. TB usually attacks the lungs but can affect any other part of the body.
How is TB spread?
TB is spread from person to person through the air. TB is spread when someone sick with TB of the lungs coughs or sneezes the germs into the air. It is not highly contagious. Close, prolonged or regular contact with someone who is sick with TB disease is needed to spread this disease.
What is TB infection?
Most people who breathe in TB germs are able to stop them from growing. The immune system traps the TB germs and keeps them inactive. This is called TB infection. A person with TB infection:
- Generally will have a positive skin test
- Does not feel sick/has no signs and symptoms
- Cannot spread TB germs
- Can go to work
TB infection can be treated with preventive medication which will reduce the risk of developing TB disease later in life.
What is TB disease?
TB germs become active when the body's immune system is unable to stop the germs from growing. The active TB germs then begin to grow and cause damage to the body. Symptoms of TB disease are:
- Cough (lasting longer than 3 weeks)
- Fever/chills/night sweats
- Feeling tired/unexplained weight loss/loss of appetite
- If the TB disease is in a part of the body other than the lungs, the symptoms will depend on where the TB is growing. An example would be a swollen lymph node or joint pain.
- A person with infectious TB disease cannot go to work until a doctor confirms that this person cannot spread TB germs to others. People with TB disease must complete treatment to cure the disease.
Is TB testing required for staff/volunteers in daycares and nursery schools?
Toronto Public Health highly recommends that all staff and volunteers provide documentation of TB testing prior to employment. Daycare/nursery school staff and volunteers need TB skin testing to protect themselves, other staff, volunteers and children. The TB skin test should be done anytime within 6 months before the start of employment.
What TB testing is recommended prior to employment?
- If a new employee/volunteer does not know their TB status or has had a negative TB skin test result in the past, a single TB skin test is highly recommended.
- If the TB skin test is negative - no further testing is needed at this time. (People with medical conditions that weaken the immune system, such as diabetes, HIV or cancer, may have a negative skin test even though they are infected with TB. If you are in this category please speak to your doctor).
- If the TB skin test is positive - a medical examination and chest x-ray is recommended. Sputum may also be collected.
- The physician should provide documentation that the individual with a positive TB skin test is free of TB disease before beginning work.
- If a new employee/volunteer has had a documented previous positive skin test, the skin test does not need to be repeated - it will always remain positive. However, a medical examination and chest x-ray is recommended to ensure that daycare/nursery school staff and volunteers do not have TB disease.
- Any employee/volunteer who has a positive TB skin test should be aware of the signs and symptoms of active TB disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of TB disease is critical. If your skin test is positive and you develop signs and symptoms of active TB, see a doctor immediately.
Where do I go for TB skin testing?
A TB skin test can be done by your family physician, a walk-in clinic or at a neighborhood community health centre. For employment purposes, you generally will have to pay for the TB skin test.
Should employees/volunteers have annual TB skin tests or chest x-rays?
Employees/volunteers are not required to have annual or periodic skin tests or chest x-rays for TB. Repeat testing is required only if there is an infectious case of TB in the daycare/nursery school. Should this occur, follow-up of the TB case and contacts will be coordinated by Toronto Public Health. Skin testing will be free if you are identified as a contact of a TB case.
Is TB testing recommended for ECE students prior to their placements?
Some daycare/nursery schools participate in Early Childhood Education (ECE) field placements. Many ECE programs require their students to have a TB skin test. If you have ECE students, confirm with their program that they have had their TB skin tests done prior to starting their placement.
Is routine TB testing recommended for children?
Routine TB testing for children is not recommended.
TB medicines are free when a doctor orders them from Toronto Public Health. TB is preventable, treatable and curable!
For more information
please contact TB Prevention and Control Program at
416-338-7600
or email targettb@toronto.ca.
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