North Central Health District

Tuberculosis Information

Posted July 31, 2014 by NCHD Admin

The Macon-Bibb County Health Department and North Central Health District (NCHD) have contacted the parents of all students of Macon’s Neighborhood Academy to encourage them to have their child tested for Tuberculosis (TB) as a health precaution. Approximately 135 people will be recommended for testing and/or screening for TB.

At this time, we are investigating how the disease was spread. We are aware of one daycare student who has been diagnosed with TB and another possible case who is currently being tested. We do not have a definitive explanation of how the TB was spread. It is possible it could have been a daycare worker since the children were in daycare together. Because of this possibility, we are recommending testing and/or screening for EVERY child at Neighborhood Academy. A letter will go home today with the recommendations for testing. Additionally, a health department representative will be onsite at the daycare to educate parents about tuberculosis on Friday, August 1. Parents may also call (478) 749-0170 if they have any concerns.

We have no reason to believe that all of these 135 students have TB. In fact, it’s more likely that they do not have tuberculosis. Because children have a greater potential of complications from TB, we want to make absolutely certain that they are healthy. This testing is a precaution. We understand that this may be scary information for parents to hear, and we want to alleviate any concerns parents may have. They can call us at any time.

The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and coughing up blood. TB is spread when a person inhales airborne germs over a prolonged period of time in a confined area from someone with the disease who coughs or sneezes. Individuals with extended exposure to someone with tuberculosis should be screened using a TB skin test.

Some students will be referred to a physician’s office for screenings and chest xrays. Other children will be recommended to receive a skin test. For parents’ convenience, free testing and the reading of the test results will be offered at the daycare. A parent or legal guardian must accompany their child unless they sign the consent form provided by the daycare.

If a parent does not want to wait for the scheduled dates, they can always contact their physician or come to the health department. The test results must be read by a certified healthcare worker no later than 72 hours after the injection or there must be a retest. Because of this, tests cannot be conducted on Thursdays.

For more information, visit http://dph.georgia.gov/tb-educational-resources-general-public or call the Health Department at (478) 749-0170.