TUBERCULOSIS
Incoming Students
Incoming students must complete a Tuberculosis (TB) Screening included in their Immunization Packet.
Current Student
Current students may schedule a Tuberculosis (TB) Screening with a team nurse in the Patient Portal.
What is Tuberculosis(TB)?
TB is a bacterial infection that impacts the lungs and sometimes infects other parts of the body. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets suspended in the air.
TB can live in the body without making you sick. This is known as Latent or Inactive TB. Without treatment, people with Inactive TB can develop Active TB disease at any time and become sick.
You are at higher risk of being exposed to TB if you were born in or travel to a country where TB is common, work(ed) or live(d) in group settings where TB is common (such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes), or recently spent time with someone who has Active TB disease.
TB is a bacterial infection that impacts the lungs and sometimes infects other parts of the body. It is transmitted from person to person through droplets suspended in the air.
TB can live in the body without making you sick. This is known as Latent or Inactive TB. Without treatment, people with Inactive TB can develop Active TB disease at any time and become sick.
You are at higher risk of being exposed to TB if you were born in or travel to a country where TB is common, work(ed) or live(d) in group settings where TB is common (such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, hospitals, and nursing homes), or recently spent time with someone who has Active TB disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of Tuberculosis(TB)?
People whose TB is currently Inactive or Latent cannot spread the disease and do not have symptoms.
People whose TB has become Active can spread the disease to others via droplets suspended in the air and may have the following symptoms: a bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum from deep inside the lungs, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
People whose TB is currently Inactive or Latent cannot spread the disease and do not have symptoms.
People whose TB has become Active can spread the disease to others via droplets suspended in the air and may have the following symptoms: a bad cough lasting more than 3 weeks, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum from deep inside the lungs, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.
What should I do if I think I have Active Tuberculosis(TB))?
Students should isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your home team.
DO NOT walk into UHC without an appointment as you risk exposing others. Contact your home team in advance to inform them of your risk for tuberculosis, and they will provide instructions including accessing an alternate entrance at UHC to avoid exposing others.
Faculty and staff should also isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your healthcare provider. Inform any healthcare provider in advance of your risk for tuberculosis so that they may provide you with special instructions to avoid exposing others.
Students should isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your home team.
DO NOT walk into UHC without an appointment as you risk exposing others. Contact your home team in advance to inform them of your risk for tuberculosis, and they will provide instructions including accessing an alternate entrance at UHC to avoid exposing others.
Faculty and staff should also isolate away from others, wear a mask, and seek care immediately by contacting your healthcare provider. Inform any healthcare provider in advance of your risk for tuberculosis so that they may provide you with special instructions to avoid exposing others.
How do I protect myself from Tuberculosis(TB)?
If you are diagnosed with Latent or Inactive TB, then the best way to protect against Active TB is treatment with antibiotics which takes several months. Without treatment, 1 in 10 of those with Inactive TB will develop Active TB disease.
If you are traveling to or working in a setting where TB disease is likely to be present, consider doing another TB Screening. Students may make an appointment for a TB Screening with their home team. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.
If you are diagnosed with Latent or Inactive TB, then the best way to protect against Active TB is treatment with antibiotics which takes several months. Without treatment, 1 in 10 of those with Inactive TB will develop Active TB disease.
If you are traveling to or working in a setting where TB disease is likely to be present, consider doing another TB Screening. Students may make an appointment for a TB Screening with their home team. Faculty and staff should contact their healthcare provider.