Directly observed therapy, which calls for public health workers to watch TB patients swallow all required anti-TB drugs, has proven to be one of the most effective tools. Curing TB calls for those infected to take two to four drugs, three times a week, for at least six months. When that happens, TB can reemerge in a more drug-resistant strain. Geographically, there were 599 tuberculosis cases in Chicago in 1997, down 10.5 percent from 669 in 1996. One area where Illinois is seeing an increase in TB cases is among individuals living in the state who were born in foreign countries.
Tuberculosis is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease transmitted through the air.
While it can affect any part of the body, such as the brain, kidneys or spine, TB usually affects the lungs. The general symptoms of TB include feeling sick or weak, weight loss, fever and night sweats. TB of the lungs causes the general symptoms plus coughing, sometimes producing blood and chest pain. Other symptoms depend on the part of the body that is affected. TB is spread from person to person through the air.