Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Responds To Increased Public Concern About Tuberculosis (TB) By Offering Special Testing Clinic
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 6, 2009
Contact
Candi Crause, Director
(217) 531-5372 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Responds To Increased Public Concern About Tuberculosis (TB) By Offering Special Testing Clinic
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Provide TB Skin Testing for Interested Community Members
Champaign, IL – Due to the increased community concern generated by the recent isolation of a local CU resident with active Tuberculosis (TB), the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be providing a TB Skin Testing Clinic on Saturday, January 24 from 9:00am – 12:00pm at 201 West Kenyon Road. The cost for the test is $5.00, and test results will be read on Monday, January 26, 2009 at 201 West Kenyon Road. CUPHD has set up a telephone hotline with recorded information regarding TB. This hotline number is: (217) 366-0292.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis which usually attacks the lungs. TB is spread through airborne droplets when a person with the infection coughs, sneezes, or talks. It is unlikely that a person will become infected with TB by a random encounter with an infected person. You need prolonged exposure in a closed environment with an infected person before becoming infected yourself.
Not everyone infected with TB becomes sick. These individuals who do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms have latent TB infection. Latent TB infection cannot be spread to other people. However, some people with latent TB go on to get active TB disease.
People with active TB displays symptoms of TB, feel sick, and spread the disease to other individuals that they have been in contact with over a prolonged period of time. Active TB is treatable with medication. It is extremely important to take the medication as prescribed for the entire length of treatment.
Symptoms of TB include:
- A cough lasting longer than 3 weeks
- Unintended weight loss
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
- Coughing up blood
- Pain in the chest
You can be tested for TB very easily. A Mantoux test is one method used as a tool to detect TB. A small amount of a substance called PPD is injected within the skin of your inside forearm. Within 48-72 hours a health care professional will check your arm for a local reaction to the injected material. Depending on your response and risk factors, the test is diagnosed as positive or negative.
Champaign-Urbana Health District TB Clinic at 201 West Kenyon Road, Champaign:
Skin Tests & Result Readings: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays: 8:00am – 4:00pm
For more information, please contact CUPHD, Division of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management, (217) 239-7827 or visit the CUPHD website at www.c-uphd.org.
ADDITIONAL TB INFORMATION
http://www.medicinenet.com/tuberculosis/article.htm
www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tuberculosis.html
www.dhpe.org
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