Key points
- Anyone can get tuberculosis (TB), but some people are at higher risk than others.
- You can get TB even if you received the TB vaccine (also known as bacille Calmette-Guérin or BCG vaccine).
- If you are at risk for TB, talk with your health care provider about getting tested.
Overview
Anyone can get TB. But people at higher risk for TB fall into two categories:
- People at higher risk of being exposed to TB germs, and
- People at higher risk of developing active TB disease once infected with TB germs.
Talk to your health care provider about getting tested.
Conditions that can increase risk
Some people with weakened immune systems (due to certain medications or health conditions) are at very high risk of developing active TB disease once infected with TB germs. It is very important that these people receive treatment for inactive TB to prevent the development of active TB disease.
Some medications or health conditions can weaken your immune system. These include:
- HIV infection
- Substance use (such as injection drug use)
- Specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease
- Organ transplants
- Severe kidney disease
- Head and neck cancer
- Diabetes
- Medical treatments such as corticosteroids
- Silicosis
- Low body weight
Babies and young children often have weak immune systems. Children, especially those under age five, have a higher risk of developing TB disease once infected with TB germs.
Places with increased risk
You have a higher risk of being exposed to TB germs if you:
- Were born in or frequently travel to countries where TB is common, including some countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America
- Live or used to live in large group settings where TB is more common, such as homeless shelters, prisons, or jails
- Work in places where TB is more likely to spread, such as hospitals, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, and nursing homes
You may be at risk for TB even if you received the TB vaccine
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine for TB disease. The vaccine is not generally used in the United States. It is often given to infants and small children in countries where TB is common. It protects children in those countries from getting severe forms of active TB disease, such as TB meningitis.
Tell your health care provider if you have received the TB vaccine, especially if you are getting tested for TB infection because it can cause a false positive TB skin test reaction. TB blood tests are the preferred tests for people who have received the BCG TB vaccine.
Prevention
TB is preventable and curable. If you are at risk for TB, talk with your health care provider. This is the first step to protecting your family, friends, and community from this highly contagious disease.
Health equity
Despite prevention efforts, TB affects some groups of people more than others. In the United States, TB adversely affects groups that have historically experienced greater obstacles to health.
Resources
Questions and Answers About Tuberculosis Booklet
Intercountry (International) Adoption: Tuberculosis