Millions of People in the U.S. Have Inactive TB but Don't Know It

Although tuberculosis (TB) is both preventable and curable, millions of people in the United States and around the world continue to suffer from TB. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) estimates up to 13 million people in the United States live with inactive TB (also called latent TB infection), and many don’t know they have it.

If left untreated, inactive TB can become active TB disease at any time, making people sick, and in some cases can be fatal. TB germs can then spread through the air from one person to another. According to the CDC, 1 in 10 people with inactive TB will get sick with active TB.

Each year on March 24th, World TB Day, organizations in the United States and globally join together to educate people and raise awareness of the impact of latent TB and TB disease. By amplifying the importance of knowing your risk factors for TB and testing for and treating latent TB, we can eliminate this devastating disease in the United States. Both inactive and active TB can be treated with medicine.

Some people who have latent TB infection are more likely than others to develop active TB and become sick, especially people who take certain medicines or have medical conditions that weaken their immune systems, like diabetes, cancer, and HIV. Untreated tuberculosis remains a leading cause of severe illness and death among people with HIV.

If you have HIV, it’s crucial to know if you also have inactive tuberculosis. Inactive TB can quickly progress to active TB, which is highly contagious and can cause life-threatening symptoms. Get tested for TB and start treatment right away if diagnosed to prevent getting sick with TB disease. It’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s directions on taking the prescribed medicine and complete all follow-up testing to monitor treatment effectiveness.

For questions and information about HIV prevention, care and treatment, contact the New Jersey AIDS/HIV/STD Hotline. Healthcare providers are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to provide free and private help, including connecting callers to free sexual health services in New Jersey: 1-800-624-2377 or Chat Here.