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 Contact Information:
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205 Dr. Martin Luther King Street North
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
- Program Information and TB Statistics: (727) 824-6932
Tuberculosis Basic:
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The primary purpose of the Tuberculosis Control Program is to:
- Identify and treat to cure all active cases of TB.
- Identify and test (also treat if indicated) all individuals exposed to an active TB case.
- Develop a targeted testing and treatment program for individuals at highest risk for developing TB disease.
What Is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an air-borne disease that can be spread when someone who is
infectious coughs, sneezes, laughs or sings. Tuberculosis usually affects the lungs but
can present in almost any part of the body and is then referred to as extra-pulmonary
disease. Close contacts can become infected, but it usually requires prolonged exposure
from six to eight hours/day for a period of four to six weeks. Other factors like poor air
circulation or lack of fresh air allow the bacteria to collect in greater concentrations thus
increasing the chance of infection.
What Are the Symptoms of TB?
General symptoms may include feeling weak or sick, weight loss, fever and/or
night sweats. Symptoms of TB of the lungs may include cough, chest pain and/or
coughing up blood. Other symptoms depend on the particular part of the body
that is affected.
Who Gets TB?
Anyone can get TB, but some people are at higher risk. Those at higher risk include:
- People who share the same breathing space (such as family members, friends, co-workers) with someone who has TB disease;
- Poor people;
- Homeless people;
- Foreign-born people from countries where a lot of people have TB;
- Nursing home residents;
- Prisoners
- Alcoholics and intravenous drug users (IVDUs)
- People with medical conditions such as diabetes, certain types of cancers, and being underweight;
- Especially people with HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS)
Related Links:
For further information, please check out these following links:
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St. Petersburg, FL 33701 
