The Public Health Protection Unit of NHS Greater Glasgow today confirmed that a woman is being treated for Pulmonary (lung) Tuberculosis (TB) in a Glasgow Hospital.

The woman, who recently gave birth at the Southern General Hospital, is in a serious, but stable condition.

Dr Helene Irvine, a Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: "Public Health officials at the Southern General are today contacting close contacts of the patient. This involves identifying those at risk – close family members – and referring them for appropriate preventative treatment.

"As a further precaution, Public Health officials will also be contacting four mothers who gave birth at the Southern General Hospital at the same time as this patient, and assessing their need for screening. We will also be offering the mothers treatment for their newborn babies."

ENDS

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION on TB:

There are around 200 cases of TB each year in the Greater Glasgow area and more than 400 each year across Scotland.

What is Tuberculosis (TB)?

TB is an infection caused by a germ, which usually affects the lungs but can also develop in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or glands.
It is not a common disease but if it is not discovered and treated, then it can be serious.

What is Pulmonary TB?

This is the form of TB that primarily affects the lungs and can be contagious.

How do you catch it?
You may catch TB if you are in prolonged contact with someone who is coughing up TB germs. You would need to have close prolonged contact with the person to become infected. Although prolonged contact does not necessarily indicate that you have contracted the infection.

You cannot contract TB by sharing the same dishes and household items and you cannot carry the TB germ back to your own family if you yourself have had contact with a TB case and have no symptoms.

It is possible for someone to contract TB and not show symptoms for one or two years after exposure. These people can test negative on screening, but go on to later develop symptoms.

What are the symptoms?
Prolonged cough -dry or with a spit
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
High temperature or excessive sweating particularly at night and lasting for two weeks or more
Coughing up blood or dirty spit
Chest tightness or pain

Additional information:

If a person is found to have TB whilst a patient in one of our hospitals, they would immediately be isolated and barrier nursing (to prevent contamination of other people) would be put into effect.