What should you know about inactive pulmonary tuberculosis?

Inactive, also called latent, TB means the immune system is containing TB germs in the body. There is no evidence of active illness at that time, so a person generally does not have a persistent cough, fever, night sweats or swollen glands and does not pass TB to others through ordinary breathing.

The state can change if the immune system becomes less able to contain the germs. Risk assessment may consider an immune condition such as [HIV Infection](/conditions/hiv-infection/), previous exposure, other illnesses and medicines.

Attend the recommended [Tuberculosis Screening](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/tuberculosis-screening/) appointment and provide details of past exposure, symptoms, medicines and immune conditions. A clinician may use a TB blood or skin test, symptom review and a [Chest X-Ray](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/chest-x-ray/) to check for active disease.

If preventive treatment is offered, take it exactly as prescribed and report side effects rather than stopping independently. Keep follow-up appointments and tell the clinic if you will be caring for someone with TB or starting an immune-suppressing medicine. Further information is available under [Tuberculosis](/conditions/tuberculosis/).

Arrange prompt assessment for a cough that persists, coughing blood, unexplained fever, night sweats, weight loss, unusual tiredness or swollen glands. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion or significant bleeding. These symptoms do not prove active TB, but they need testing and appropriate precautions.

Which test showed inactive TB, and do I need a chest X-ray? Is preventive treatment suitable with my medicines or health conditions? What symptoms should make me avoid close contact and call the clinic?