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Difference Between Infection and Disease
Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. But some people who have latent TB infection are more likely to develop TB disease than others. These people are at high risk for TB disease. They include:
- people with HIV infection
- people who became infected with TB bacteria in the last 2 years
- babies and young children
- people who inject drugs
- people who are sick with other diseases that weaken the immune system
- elderly people
- people who were not treated correctly for TB in the past
If you have latent TB infection (a positive skin test reaction) and you are in one of these high-risk groups, you need to take medicine to keep from developing TB disease. This is called treatment for latent TB infection. There are many treatment options. You and your health care provider must decide which treatment is best for you.
The medicine usually used for the treatment of latent TB infection is a drug called isoniazid or INH. INH kills the TB bacteria that are in the body. If you take your medicine as prescribed, treatment for latent TB infection will keep you from ever developing TB disease.
The preferred regimen for all persons, including HIV positive is Isoniazid (INH) daily for 9 months. Sometimes people are given treatment for latent TB infection even if their skin test reaction is not positive. This is often done with infants, children, and HIV-infected people who have recently spent time with someone with infectious TB disease. This is because they are at very high risk of developing serious TB disease soon after they become infected with TB bacteria.
It is important that you take all the pills prescribed for you so that your treatment for latent TB infection is effective. If you start taking INH, you will need to see your doctor or nurse on a regular schedule. He or she will check on how you are doing. Very few people have serious side effects to INH. However, if you have any of the following side effects call your doctor or nurse right away:
- no appetite
- nausea
- vomiting
- yellowish skin or eyes
- fever for 3 or more days
- abdominal pain
- tingling in the fingers and toes
Warning: Drinking alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, and liquor) while taking INH can be dangerous. Check with your doctor or nurse for more information. People who have latent TB infection but do not receive treatment for latent TB infection need to know the symptoms of TB. If they develop symptoms of TB disease later on, they should see a doctor right away.
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