Tuberculosis

About Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB, is a bacterial infection spread through the air from a person who has active tuberculosis to those who are in close contact. It is most often found in the lungs.

Most people who are exposed to TB never develop symptoms because the bacteria can live in an inactive form in the body. But if the immune system weakens, such as in people with HIV or elderly adults, TB bacteria can become active. In their active state, TB bacteria cause death of tissue in the organs they infect. Active TB disease can be fatal if left untreated.

Program Goals & Objectives:

Not all communities are affected equally by TB; some have very high rates of disease while others have very little. Much of our time and effort is directed at those communities with the most TB cases.

The NITHA TB program provides support to our partner communities to prevent and control Tuberculosis and to reduce the incidence of TB by:

• Working quickly to identify, screen and refer for preventative treatment, people who have been exposed to someone with active TB so they do not get sick themselves
• Educating communities about TB, its symptoms, the factors that increase the risk of developing active TB disease and the importance of seeing a health care provider early
• Supporting TB program workers and community health nurses to administer DOT (Directly Observed Therapy) to those who require treatment for TB infection and active TB disease
• Working in partnership with Saskatchewan TB Prevention and Control and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective strategies for controlling TB

For contact information, please visit our staff page.

Resources

TB Survivor Stories

TB High Risk Screening and Educational Tools – Primary Care/Community Health

Weblinks & Manuals

TB Poster Set

TB High Risk Screening and Educational Tools – Client Handouts