Answer
Currently, there is no extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis in Central Texas, the type reported in the news in connection with international travel. There have been cases of lesser multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that can be spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, breathes, laughs or even sings. How contagious it is depends on how contagious the person with TB is.
Although it is a major cause of death worldwide, Travis County has only about 45 to 65 new cases identified each year, which is relatively low.
The drug resistant forms of the disease arise when sufferers fail to take the entire course of medication needed to eradicate the bacterium that causes it. Both MDR and XDR tuberculosis require multiple antibiotic drugs to achieve a cure and treatment can take as long as two years.
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department goes out of its way to identify and treat suspect TB cases of any sort. The risk of exposure to any form of tuberculosis is low unless you:
- Travel internationally, especially by air, or into third-world countries where TB incidence is high.
- Are poor, medically underserved or homeless.
- Spend time with others from countries where TB incidence is high (including Mexico and South America).
- Have spent time in jail or a correctional facility.
- Abuse alcohol or intravenous drugs.
- Have immune-suppressing diseases such as HIV or AIDS or are being treated with immune-suppressing drugs.
- Spend time around someone with symptoms of active TB disease.
If you fall into one of the above categories and believe you have reason to be concerned, check with your physician's office or clinic to perform a TB skin tests. You can also contact the Travis County Tuberculosis Clinic hotline at 512-972-5460 if you need more information.
The Centers for Disease Control have posted a discussion of XDR TB , along with trends in tuberculosis. There is also more information on GoodHealth.com's online health encyclopedia .
Ask GoodHealth.com is intended for consumer education only. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with questions regarding your personal health or medical condition.
