Durham child has TB

A student at Durham's Northern High School, 117 Tom Wilkinson Road, has been diagnosed with probable active tuberculosis (TB), the school district said Thursday.

TB can be spread through the air when someone who is sick coughs, speaks, laughs, sings or sneezes. People can come in contact germs and not develop an active illness.

School staff and fellow students who may have been exposed have been contacted by the Durham County Health Department. They will be tested for the disease next week, and again eight weeks later.

Symptoms of TB include a cough that lasts three weeks or longer, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Evaluation for active or latent TB can involve a skin or blood test, review of symptoms and chest x-ray. TB is treated with a variety of drugs over a course of six to 12 months.