What does it mean to be a "high-risk contact" of someone with active TB disease? 

A "high-risk contact" is someone who has a greater chance of getting sick with tuberculosis (TB) after being around someone who has active TB. This includes children under 5 years old and people with weakened immune systems, like those with HIV or those receiving chemotherapy for cancer. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor to see if you or anyone in your family falls into the high-risk category. 

How do you know I spent time with this person? 

When someone is found to have active TB, we talk to them about the people they've been in close contact with and the places they've visited. This helps us reach out to anyone who might have been exposed to TB and offer them testing to check if they have inactive TB. If someone has given us your name, it's because they care about your health. 

How do I get tested for TB? 

If you've been in contact with someone who has active TB disease, we'll contact you to offer testing. You can also decide to get tested by your own doctor, but they may charge your insurance, and you might have to pay a fee. If you believe you've been exposed to someone with active TB and haven't heard from us, please call us at 816-513-6128. Please wear a mask when you visit your doctor’s office, ER, or urgent care. 

You can get tested at: 

Adult/Refugee/International Travelers Vaccination Clinic 
2400 Troost Ave (Suite 1300)
Kansas City, Missouri 

Why am I getting tested a second time if my first test was negative? 

We test you twice because catching TB early helps you begin treatment sooner. It can take a while for your body to show if it has TB bacteria, so we might suggest testing again. Testing twice also helps us figure out if the infection is new or if it's been in your body for a while. 

My child had a negative TB test. Why should they take medicine if their test results were negative? 

A doctor might suggest giving TB medicine to a baby even if their first TB test was negative. This is because TB tests may not work well for babies younger than 6 months. The doctor may recommend starting the medicine and then doing another test when the baby is 6 months old, which will give a clearer result. Active TB can be very serious for young kids, especially those under 2 years old. 

Is TB testing and inactive TB medicine free for contacts of someone with TB disease? 

You don't have to pay for TB testing and medicine at the TB Clinic. You can also get tested by your own doctor, but if you do, they might charge your insurance, and it might not be free. The TB Clinic can't help everyone in Kansas City with inactive TB. They can only test people who have been in close contact with someone who has active TB. If you need a list of clinics that offer sliding scale payments or financial help for inactive TB medicine, you can find it online. 

Treatment locations:  

• Sam Rodgers 

• Swope Health 

• University Health 

Do I need a TB test if I got the TB vaccine (also known as BCG vaccine) as a child? 

You still need to get a TB test. The TB vaccine, also called the BCG vaccine, can help protect kids from severe types of TB, but it doesn't stop you from getting TB germs or prevent inactive TB from turning into active TB. If you had the BCG vaccine as a child, it won't affect blood test results, but it might change the results of a skin test. Many people born outside the US may have had the TB vaccine in their home countries. 

What's the difference between active TB disease and inactive TB? 

If you have a blood test that shows a positive result for TB (like IGRA, QFT, or TSPOT), and your chest x-ray and doctor's exam are normal, it means you have inactive TB (also called latent TB infection or LTBI). This means you don't have any symptoms and feel fine. However, the TB germs are still in your lungs and could become active later, turning into active TB disease. When that happens, you will show symptoms and could spread the germs to others, including family and friends. 

Many people have inactive TB. Some doctors may choose not to treat it unless you have certain health issues that make your immune system weaker. Even if you feel healthy, there is still a risk that inactive TB can turn into active TB disease. 

Why should I take treatment for inactive TB if I don't feel sick? 

If you were around someone who has active tuberculosis (TB) and you got infected with the inactive form, you have a higher risk of it turning into active TB in the next two years. If the inactive TB becomes active, it can lead to serious issues. You might have to stay away from friends and family, take time off work, and take medicine for a long time. Taking medication for inactive TB lowers your chance of developing active TB down the road. This helps keep you, your family, and your friends safe. 

What should I do if I start having symptoms of active TB disease? 

If you have a cough that won't go away, are coughing up blood, losing weight without trying, experiencing night sweats, feeling very tired, or have a fever, contact your doctor immediately. If you don't have a doctor, visit urgent care as soon as possible.