Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection by bacteria (a type of germ) that affects the lungs and other parts of the body. Someone with TB can either have:

• Latent TB infection, a condition in which the bacteria are not active. The person doesn't have any symptoms of TB and can't spread it to others.

         or

• TB disease, a condition in which the bacteria are active. The person has symptoms of TB, such as a cough and a fever, and can spread TB to others.

Your child has latent TB infection (also called inactive TB). To prevent the latent TB infection from becoming TB disease, your health care provider prescribed medicines for several months. Here's how to care for your child at home.

• Follow your health care provider's instructions for:
  • Giving the medicines. Be sure to give the medicine exactly as prescribed. This is the best way to kill the TB germs. Ask about any possible side effects from the medicines.
  • Any dietary recommendations to make sure your child gets the nutrients they need to keep their immune system (germ-fighting system) strong. 
  • Any medicines your child needs to avoid.
  • Making any appointments with any medical specialists.
  • When to follow up.
• For older kids and teens, make sure they know that they shouldn't drink alcohol while taking medicines for TB. Certain medicines for TB can make the liver work harder. Drinking alcohol while taking these medicines can be dangerous. 
• Smoking weakens the immune system and causes many health problems. Your child shouldn't smoke or be around anyone who smokes. For help quitting, call 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669) or visit smokefree.gov.
• Your child can't spread TB, so they can go to school and do all the activities they did before. 

Your child:

• Has trouble taking the prescribed medicine
• Develops symptoms of TB disease, such as:
  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Tiredness
  • Weight loss
  • Chills
  • Night sweats
• Has side effects from the medicines, such as tiredness, loss of appetite, feeling sick to their stomach, vomiting, dark-colored urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes), fatigue, belly pain, or easy bruising 

How does someone get latent TB infection? Kids can get infected with TB from being around someone with TB disease. When someone with TB disease coughs, sneezes, sings, laughs, or talks, TB germs enter the air. If a child breathes in these droplets, the TB germs can infect the lungs. The TB germs usually stay inactive, which means the child has latent TB infection. Although it is much less common, kids can also get infected with TB by eating or drinking an infected animal product — for example, unpasteurized milk.

How does latent TB infection become TB disease? Most people with latent TB infection don't go on to develop TB disease. But it can happen if the immune system becomes weak and can no longer keep the germs under control. This is more likely to happen in those who:

• Are very young (since their immune systems are still developing) 
• Have a medical condition such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, diabetes, or kidney problems
• Are malnourished (don't get enough nutrients from their diet)
• Take medicines that suppress their immune system

Latent TB infection is also more likely to become TB disease if a child is around people with TB disease. 

When taken as directed, TB medicines are very good at preventing latent TB infection from progressing to TB disease.

What happens when someone with latent TB infection gets symptoms of TB disease? Health care providers treat TB disease with a combination of medicines taken for several months. When taken exactly as directed, most people get better. Without treatment, TB disease can cause serious symptoms and even death.

Will my child always test positive with a TB skin test? Yes, since your child's immune system will "remember" the TB germ and react to them.