Pulmonary tuberculosis

Alternative names:

TB; tuberculosis - pulmonary

Prevention:

Routine skin testing for tuberculosis is done during routine well-baby exams. Infants are normally screened at 1 year and children at 5 years. Individuals exposed to tuberculosis should be skin tested immediately and the skin test repeated in 3 to 6 months if the initial skin test is negative.

Detection of early cases and prompt treatment are paramount in controlling the spread of tuberculosis.

A BCG vaccination for tuberculin-negative people who have been exposed to TB is given in some situations, but its effectiveness is under dispute. BCG is routinely used in some countries in Europe but is not routinely used in the United States. People who have had BCG should not be skin tested for tuberculosis.

Updated Date: 02/09/00

Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial