Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick.
Some people develop TB disease soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB germs. Other people have latent TB infection and may get sick years later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Treating latent TB infection is effective in preventing TB disease.
Tuberculosis Fact Sheet
Learn more about symptoms, transmission, testing, and treatment.
The purpose of the TB Center is to:
- Identify and treat until all cases of TB disease are cured
- Conduct TB surveillance activities
- Provide priority testing to individuals at high risk for developing TB disease
- Evaluate and test individuals in close contact to a case of TB disease
- Provide education on TB disease
Services are provided by appointment at the Sulphur Springs Health Complex Building, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We offer morning (8 – 11 a.m.) services only on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month.
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough) TB Center does not offer TB testing for school or work requirements. If you need a TB test for work or school, please reach out to your primary care provider.
Resources for Professionals
- Core Curriculum on TB: What the Clinician Should Know
- Southeastern National Tuberculosis Center Pediatric TB for the Private Provider
- CDC Tuberculosis (TB) website
- CDC National Tuberculosis (TB) Statistics
- State of Florida Tuberculosis (TB) Statistics
- Reporting Guidelines Document
- Tuberculosis (TB) Center Referral Guidelines
Patients with a positive skin test and abnormal chest X-ray, symptoms of disease, or risk factors for development of tuberculosis (TB) disease should be referred to DOH-Hillsborough is available for consultation in the management of latent tuberculosis infection and assesses individual risk to determine appropriateness for referral to the Department of Health or management within the medical community.