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Tuberculosis Program

The mission of the Tuberculosis Control Unit is to prevent the spread of TB in suburban Cook County. The TB Control Unit’s goals are:

  1. To identify, treat, and care for all persons with TB disease who are residents of suburban Cook County
  2. To evaluate contacts of persons with TB disease, and to identify and treat suburban Cook County residents with latent TB infection (LTBI), so those persons do not develop TB disease.

Tuberculosis Facts

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which spreads from person to person when a contagious individual sneezes, coughs, or speaks. TB germs form tiny particles called droplet nuclei that can become suspended in air, sometimes for long periods. These TB germs can cause infection when they are inhaled by others.

Tuberculosis usually infects the lungs but can infect any part of the body, including the kidney, brain or spine. Close contacts of TB cases, such as household members, coworkers or others who spend considerable time together, can become infected.

Most infected persons have latent TB infection (LTBI). Persons with LTBI do not have TB symptoms (i.e., coughing, fever, night sweats, coughing up blood) and are not infectious to others. It is crucial, however, that persons with LTBI receive treatment, because some persons with LTBI will eventually develop TB disease. With appropriate public health measures and with the right treatment regimen, TB can be prevented from spreading to others in the community, and patients with TB can be cured of this potentially life-threatening disease.

The Tuberculosis Control Unit at the Cook County Department of Public Health provides education, TB screening tests, chest x-rays, case management, treatment for latent TB infections and TB disease, including directly observed therapy and conducts TB contact investigations to control TB in suburban Cook County. Clinical diagnostic and treatment services are available to all residents of suburban Cook County by appointment only, at the following clinic locations:

  • Des Plaines Clinic

    9325 Church St.
    Des Plaines, IL 60016

  • Forest Park Clinic

    7556 West Jackson Blvd.
    Forest Park, IL 60130

  • Harvey Clinic

    15948 South Halsted St.
    Harvey, IL 60426
 

For more information, to schedule an appointment, or to report a case of Tuberculosis, please call (708) 836-8600.

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