Tuberculosis confirmed in Warren County
Health officials say case contained
Thursday, April 19, 2007
MONMOUTH - An active case of tuberculosis is being treated in Warren County.Jenna Link, administrator for the Warren County Health Department, informed the board during its meeting Tuesday that on March 22, the state health department contacted her regarding an active case of tuberculosis in Warren County.
Thirty-six family members were exposed to the individual and the health department has been busy contacting each person, making arrangements for them to be tested.
Link said five adults and five children are being treated for TB at this time. Case management arrangements are in the process to oversee the adults and children for drug therapy. The board discussed contracting a nurse to provide case management for the children.
Jennifer Hamerlinck, community health director with the health department, said the TB in this case has been contained.
The health board can apply for grant money to help offset the unexpected expense.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis is a disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine and brain. If not treated properly, TB can be fatal. TB was once the leading cause of death in the U.S., but is easily treatable today.
TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in the bacteria and become infected.
However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get the disease.
People with active TB disease can be treated and cured if they seek medical help. People with latent TB infection can take medicine to prevent active TB disease.
According to the Illinois Department of Health's Web site, TB was all but wiped out, but made a comeback about a decade ago.
Scientists discovered the first of several medicines now used to treat TB in the 1940s. As a result, TB slowly began to decrease in the United States. But in the 1970s and early 1980s, the country let its guard down and TB control efforts were neglected. As a result, between 1985 and 1992, the number of TB cases increased. However, with increased funding and attention to the TB problem, there has been a steady decline in the number of persons with TB since 1992.
More than 14,000 cases were reported in 2003 in the United States.
For more information, call the Warren County Health Department at (309) 734-1314.
TB Symptoms
- A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- Pain in the chest
- Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
- Weakness or fatigue
- Weight loss
- No appetite
- Chills
- Fever
- Night sweats
