In fact, many people believed that the disease was under control. The growing number of children cared for in group settings where repeated and prolonged exposure to TB is possible has caused alarm among medical professionals. Child care workers can help protect the children in their care by understanding how tuberculosis is contracted and how the disease progresses. Tuberculosis spreads when an adolescent or an adult who has active TB disease coughs bacteria into the air. The bacteria are then inhaled by another person.
Infection usually requires repeated exposure.
And, except under extreme circumstances, it does not spread by brief contact with large, open areas, by sputum, or by handling an infected person's personal items. While adults spread TB to children, it is highly unlikely that adults can contract TB from children. Children are not able to cough with enough force to spread the bacteria into the air. Child care workers also need to know the difference between TB infection and active TB disease. People with TB infection have the TB bacteria in their bodies, and TB skin tests will be positive.