TBC: Is tuberculosis contagious

Is tuberculosis contagious?
My boyfriend has tuberculosis and i want to know if its contagious. If it is how do i know if i have it without going to the doctor? he was born with it but none of his parents have it
Infectious Diseases - 11 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
yes its extremly contagious and dangerous. Some people have TB and they are just carriers of it. but it is not contagious that way. If someone is suffering from the TB then its extremly contagious. If you do have it you need to get tested and so does your family and friends. very dangerous.
2 :
YES! TB is extremely contagious, and there are resistant strains of it popping up all over the place, so it is getting harder to treat. Is your boyfriend on any kind of treatment, like INH?
3 :
Very very very contagious! See a doctor ASAP. They can test you and see if you have contracted it. And avoid your BF until he's not contagious anymore. His dr will tell him when that is.
4 :
If it wasn't contagious, then the media wouldn't be all over a story such as this.....
5 :
Was he recently diagnosed and is he sick? You can test positive but not be sick or contagious. It is an air born disease - through sputum, kissing , sex etc. But he would have to be sick now. If he was diagnosed sometime ago and treated he will always test positive but not be contagious. There is a lot of information to be found on the American Lung Association site.
6 :
YES!!!!! You can't. They have to do a TB test. GO TO THE DOCTOR
7 :
Yes, TB is contagious. I advise you not to take a wait-and-see position. Schedule a Mantoux test right away and find out if you've been exposed. FYI: The Mantoux is what a lot of people call a PPD, which stands for purified protein derivative and which is the protein injected just under the skin as part of the Mantoux test.
8 :
TB or tuberculosis is very contagious which is why they usually quarantine people who have it so they don't infect anyone else. If you've been exposed to it you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
9 :
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that usually affects the lungs, but can also spread to other parts of the body. It is caused by the airborne bacterium Myobacterium tuberculosis. Because it is airborne, TB is generally transmitted when someone infected with TB coughs, sneezes, laughs or otherwise expels breath into the air. Once in the air, the bacteria can stay alive for several hours. However, brief exposure to TB bacteria rarely results in infection. Most people who contract TB become infected after repeated exposure to the bacteria (e.g., from another household member). Anyone can become infected with TB. Because TB is caused by close contact with people who are already infected with TB, anyone who lives or works closely with someone with TB is at risk. However, the risk of contracting TB from contact with infected people is significantly increased among certain groups. The most significant risk factor for TB is a weakened immune system. It is because of this that people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are most at risk for TB. Both AIDS and the virus that causes it, HIV, damage the bodyâ€™s immune system. This damage makes people with HIV or AIDS less able to fight infections, including TB. To put your mind at ease, how about reading up on TB and learning all you can. It'll help you and your boyfriend, you know? : ) http://cold.health.ivillage.com/pneumonialunginfection/tuberculosis.cfm
10 :
Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily an illness of the respiratory system, and is spread by coughing and sneezing. Each year about 1.6 million people die from this curable disease.
11 :
YES

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Friday, January 28, 2011

Is tuberculosis contagious