No need for distress over recent tuberculosis case
Despite local student's TB diagnosis, community should not be alarmed, authorities say
12:10 p.m. Friday, March 16, 2007
TB case in Topeka
A Topeka elementary school student has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. USD 501 officials say a female student at Whitson Elementary School is infected. Health officials will now evaluate anyone who may have been exposed to the student. Learn who will have to be tested in this report on tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is a deadly disease is many parts of the world, but in the U.S. it's rare.
There were only 93 cases of TB in Kansas last year.
And of those, recent immigrants account for about two-thirds of the cases, and the elderly accounted for the other third, with most contracting the disease when they were very young.
So, health authorities say not too be alarmed.
"No, it's not something that people should be scared about, but at the same time it should be taken seriously. And, I would encourage anyone who has been asked to have their child tested to go ahead and allow them to be tested," said Joe Blubaugh, spokesman with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
You may have TB if you have cough, night sweats, weight loss, chills, fever, appetite loss and tiredness. Contact a physician if you show these symptoms or if you think you have been exposed to someone who has TB. You can also call the Shawnee County Health Department for more information: (785) 368-2037.
Global perspective on TB
Tuberculosis is one of the world's deadliest diseases.
- One-third of the world's population are infected with TB.
- Each year, nearly 9 million people around the world become sick with TB.
- Each year, there are almost 2 million TB-related deaths worldwide.
- TB is the leading killer of people who are HIV infected.
Source: CDC.gov.
Fast Facts
- Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium that, most often, infects the lungs, although other organs can be infected.
- Tuberculosis is spread through the air when a diseased person coughs or sneezes.
- It is possible to be infected with TB but not have any symptoms.
More information about tuberculosis and its treatment is available online from the American Lung Association, the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Comments
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Mar. 17, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)Linda (anonymous)
First your "Fast Facts" say "is spread through the air when a diseased person coughs or sneezes"
Then it says "Infected persons cannot spread the disease".
Hmmmmmm........
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