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General TB Information
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal.
Basic TB Information
- CDC's Basic TB Facts webpage
- Latent TB Infection Online Resource Hub: webpage from CDC with information for providers and patients about LTBI.
- Patient & General Public Materials: webpage from CDC with resources for the general public and patients. Many resources available in multiple languages.
- Questions and Answers about Tuberculosis: booklet from CDC with information on the diagnosis and treatment of LTBI and TB disease. Available in multiple languages.
- Visit our Michigan TB Epidemiology page to learn more about TB in our state.
- Latent TB Infection (LTBI) Factsheet: Designed by MDHHS for patients, this fact sheet explains the difference between TB disease and latent TB infection (LTBI) in simple, non-medical terms.
Resources for Patients
- Patient Education Materials Series: patient education materials series from CDC covering TB disease, TB infection, tuberculin skin testing, TB contact investigation, TB and HIV coinfection, and TB medicine. Materials available in English, Spanish with English translation, Tagalog with English translation, and Vietnamese with English translation.
- Sputum Collection Videos: animated videos created by Rutgers Global TB Institute to give patients instructions for how to produce a good sputum specimen for TB diagnosis.
- We Are TB is a supportive community of tuberculosis (TB) survivors, people in treatment, and family members committed to the common goal of eliminating TB. For more information, please see the We Are TB website and flyer.
- Somos TB offers support in Spanish. View the Somos TB webpage and flyer for more information.
- TB and Autoimmune Illness is a handout that contains information about TB for people with autoimmune illnesses, specifically those on biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). This resource was developed by Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director for Central Michigan District Health Department (DHD), Mid-Michigan DHD, and DHD #10. This resource is also available in several other languages on the multilingual resources page.
- TB Medication Tips for Children is a resource with tips on how to help children take their TB medications. This resource was also developed by Dr. Morse and the last page is from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Also available in Spanish and Vietnamese.
Please visit our multilingual resources page to see translated materials and resources.