Contact Tracing
If someone is found to have active TB, people who have spent a lot of time with them will be contacted. They can be helped if they have TB and this also stops the spread of tuberculosis.
Who will be contacted?
People will only be contacted if they have spent lots of time with someone who has infectious TB. If a friend or family member finds out they have infectious TB, you may get a letter from the hospital asking you to go to for tests. People who are more at risk of TB may also need TB screening. Find out more in Am I at risk?…
What happens during TB contract tracing?
Doctors will check to see if you have TB. They might ask questions to see if you have symptoms, like:
- Have you had a cough that won’t go away?
- Have you had a fever or night sweats?
- Have you lost weight without trying?
- Do you feel tired all the time?
You may be asked if you have had the TB vaccine – called the BCG. Though it is important to remember you can still get TB if you have had the BCG.
You will also be given a skin test, known as a Mantoux test and may be offered a blood test. If you are showing TB symptoms, the doctor might arrange a chest X-ray or other simple tests. You can find out more about these in Testing for TB…