Tuberculosis Testing Clinic in Paramount, CA

Tuberculosis, or TB, is caused by a specific bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is spread within the air when an infected person opens their mouth to talk, cough, or sneeze, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air. People nearby can inhale the droplets, which then settle in the lungs, causing infection. TB is more common in people with weakened immune systems, which include those with HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, or other illnesses. It can also spread from person to person through contact with infected body fluids, such as blood or semen.

The TB bacterium is spread when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air. When people nearby inhale the droplets, the bacteria settle in their lungs, causing an infection.
 
Testing for TB is recommended for individuals who have been in close contact with someone who has the disease, have symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, or fever, have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition like HIV/AIDS, or work or reside in high-risk settings like nursing homes or correctional facilities. It is also recommended for individuals who have recently arrived from countries with high TB rates.

Tuberculosis (TB) is well known to be a highly contagious disease. The bacteria that cause TB are spread within the air when an infected person opens their mouth to talk, coughs, or sneezes, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria into the air. People nearby can inhale the droplets, which then enter the lungs and cause an infection.
 
It is important to note that not everyone who is exposed to TB will end up developing the disease. Additionally, individuals who have close and prolonged contact with someone who has active TB are also at a much higher risk of getting sick and becoming infected themselves. TB is treatable and curable with medication, but if left untreated, it can be life-threatening.

The symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) can vary depending on whether the infection is latent (inactive) or active. In most cases, a person with latent TB will not show any symptoms. However, if the infection becomes active, symptoms may start to appear.
 
The symptoms of active TB can include a persistent cough, chest pains, coughing up blood or phlegm, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. In some cases, the infection can also affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, or brain, leading to additional symptoms.
 
It’s important to note that the symptoms of TB can be similar to those of other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu or a cold. Therefore, if you have any of these symptoms, it is important to talk with a healthcare professional to get to the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

There are different types of tests available to detect tuberculosis (TB), and each test has a different timeframe for getting results.

The most commonly used test for TB is the skin test, also known as the PPD test. During this test, a small amount of fluid is injected just under the skin of the forearm. The test is read 48–72 hours later, and the results are based on the size of the skin reaction. If the reaction is positive, indicating exposure to TB, further testing will be necessary to determine if the infection is active or inactive.

Another test that is becoming more widely used is the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test. This test measures the immune system’s response to TB bacteria by detecting the presence of specific proteins in the blood.

In some cases, chest X-rays and other imaging tests may also be used to diagnose TB. These tests can help detect changes in the lungs or other parts of the body that may be caused by TB.

TB tests can tell you if you’re positive for tuberculosis disease. TB tests are available at Reddy Urgent Care.For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are located at 8311 Alondra Blvd, Paramount, CA 90723. No appointment is needed to see one of our doctors at our urgent care centers. We serve patients from Downtown Long Beach CA, Bixby Knolls Long Beach CA, Paramount CA, East Side CA, Los Altos CA, and surrounding areas.