What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium. The bacteria can be anywhere in the body. The incubation period is eight weeks to a lifetime and about one in 10 people become ill. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common type and can cause the following symptoms:
- Coughing;
- Mucus when coughing, sometimes with blood;
- Reduced appetite;
- Fatigue;
- Fever;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Night sweats.
How do you get tuberculosis?
A person with open TB can transmit the bacteria by coughing. We call it open TB when a person has the bacteria in his or her lungs.
What can you do to prevent tuberculosis?
In specific cases, you can be vaccinated against tuberculosis. Other than that, avoid people who cough and poorly ventilated rooms. If tuberculosis is suspected or at increased risk, we can perform a screening for tuberculosis. We perform a tuberculosis screening by means of a skin test (Mantoux). We advise travellers to get checked for tuberculosis in the following cases:
- If you spend more than three months in high-risk areas;
- If you regularly take short trips to high-risk areas;
- When you think you have been exposed to tuberculosis (in local public transport, while staying with locals or through contact with sick, coughing people).
Tuberculosis vaccination information
There is a vaccine against tuberculosis. This tuberculosis vaccination is only administered in specific cases and this can only be done at the tuberculosis service of the GGD. At vaccinatiecentrum.nl you can have a tuberculosis test done eight weeks after your trip. This will tell you whether you contracted tuberculosis during your trip.
What does a tuberculosis test cost?
The Mantoux test for a possible tuberculosis infection is in most cases covered by your supplementary health insurance. For more information on costs, please visit our prices page.
Questions or schedule an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for a tuberculosis test? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.