Prompt treatment can usually greatly reduce the long term consequences of the disease. Diagnosis is usually based on the patient's symptoms, a chest x-ray, and a skin test, known as the Mantoux test. A positive result from the test does not mean that the person has active tuberculosis. People who have a previous exposure to TB will test positive on the tuberculin test, as will some people exposed to related mycobacteria. For people who have significant reactions to the tuberculin skin test, other methods are used to determine if they have active TB, including a sputum sample.
Treatment can last a year or longer.
If untreated, TB can also be fatal. We regret that we can't answer medical questions via e-mail. This website and all contents copyright MCG Health Care , 2000-2001.