Tuberculosis
All testing and treatment for infectious diseases is free to everyone living in this country, regardless of their immigration status. This includes testing and treating tuberculous (TB)
There are two types of tuberculosis – active TB and latent TB Active TB
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacteria that can affect any part of the body including the lungs and the brain
- If TB is found in the lungs or throat, it needs treating with antibiotics
- If this goes untreated, this is called Active TB
- Active TB means you have symptoms of TB and can pass the infection on to others
- Common symptoms of TB include:
- a cough that lasts more than 3 weeks
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a high temperature/feeling generally unwell
- loss of appetite/weight loss
- If you have TB symptoms, you should make an appointment to see your GP to discuss your symptoms
Latent TB
- Sometimes you can have TB but have no symptoms and are not infectious to other people. This is called latent or sleeping TB.
- If you are eligible you can have a free Latent TB Infection test
Who can have a test for Latent TB?
- Those who have arrived in the UK within the last 5 years
- Are aged between 16-35 years
- Are from a country with a high incidence of TB
Afghanistan; Angola; Bangladesh; Bhutan; Botswana; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Congo (Republic of the); DR Congo; Djibouti; Equatorial Guinea; Eswatini; Gabon; Gambia; Greenland; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Kenya; DPR Korea; Kiribati; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Marshall Islands; Mongolia; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Nigeria; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Tanzania; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vietnam; Zambia; Zimbabwe. Source: World Health Organisation (WHO), 2020
Community latent TB testing
The NHS TB team in Coventry is looking for opportunities to hold latent TB testing clinics in the community. We are particularly interested in organisations that can use the funding to host and promote a TB screening clinic within the local community.