The White Plague Novelist revisits Louisville in the time of tuberculosis

Roentgenogram

(Natallia Yaumenenka)

Public health officials are offering tuberculosis tests to all students and faculty at Homewood High School tomorrow after a freshman tested positive for the disease, according to a letter e-mailed to parents this afternoon.

The Jefferson County Department of Health notified the school district of the freshman's positive tuberculosis test. Students and faculty who want to be tested can receive the first part of the test tomorrow.

A tuberculosis test consists of two parts, an injection of tuberculin purified protein derivative under the skin and a skin test reaction two to three days later. Students and faculty who receive the first part of the test tomorrow will receive results before school lets out Friday afternoon for Spring Break, according to the letter.

Tuberculosis is a contagious respiratory disease that can either be latent or active. People infected with the latent variety have no symptoms and are not contagious. Active tuberculosis causes severe cough, fever, chills and weight loss. Tuberculosis can be fatal if left untreated.

Most forms of tuberculosis can be treated by antibiotics, although there are some strains that have become resistant to treatment. Treatment typically lasts six to nine months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials from the Jefferson County Department of Public Health and Homewood City Schools were not immediately available for comment.

There were 133 reported cases of tuberculosis in Alabama last year, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health, which is a rate of about 2.8 per 100,000 people.