What is the difference between latent TB infection and TB disease?
A Person with Latent TB Infection • Usually has a skin test or a blood test result indicating TB infection* • Usually has a normal chest x-ray • Has TB bacteria in their body that are alive but inactive • Has no symptoms • Does not feel sick • Cannot spread TB to others • Should consider treatment for LTBI to stop active TB disease from spreading A Person with Active TB Disease • Usually has a skin test or a blood test result indicating TB infection* • Usually has a normal chest x-ray • Has TB bacteria in their body • Usually feels sick and experiences symptoms • May spread TB to others • Needs treatment to cure the active TB disease *A positive tuberculin skin test (TST) or a positive blood test only shows that you have been infected with the TB bacteria. Neither test can tell if you have TB disease, only if the TB bacteria are in your body.
