Active TB requires treatment as patients will be exhibiting symptoms and are able to pass the disease on to other people. A course of antibiotics to treat active TB can run for six months up to nine months. The length of your treatment and the types of medications used to treat active TB will be dependent on where in the body the infection is, your age, any possible drug resistance, and your overall health. Unlike some other types of infections that take a matter of days to no longer be contagious, TB takes a few weeks of treatment to no longer be contagious. Your doctor will start you on medication right away if you test positive for TB, but you will need to follow additional steps to prevent spreading the bacteria to people around you. Patients will need to stay home from any activities and keep their distance from other people in the house for the first few weeks. Keep the room where you sleep and other rooms that you spend time in well-ventilated by opening the windows and using fans to move the air in the room outside. Cover your mouth with a tissue when you cough, laugh or sneeze, then make sure you seal the tissue into a plastic bag and dispose of it right away. If avoiding other people is impossible for the first few weeks of treatment, wear a face mask to reduce the likelihood of spreading bacteria.