State Says Pediatric Worker in SE Michigan Had Tuberculosis

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says it's investigating a situation where a patients may have come into close contact with a healthcare worker who was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The unidentified "healthcare associate" was unaware of being ill with tuberculosis. That worker worked at Lakeview Pediatrics from April 2019 to January 2020, at three locations in the Metro Detroit area, in their locations in St. Clair Shores, Macomb County and Rochester.

MDHHS is in the process of notifying anyone who might have been exposed, that they should be tested immediately.

MDHHS says "the associate diagnosed with pulmonary TB is receiving treatment and is not currently working. All associates and providers at the practice have been tested and do not have active TB disease."

TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs but can attack any part of the body such as the spine, brain or kidneys. Symptoms can include:

• A bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer
• Pain in the chest
• Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss
• No appetite
• Chills
• Fever
• Sweating at night

“TB is a treatable bacterial disease that is spread through the air from one person to another,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health for MDHHS. “While the infection can be serious, not everyone who is exposed to TB will be infected, and many people who are infected never develop symptoms.” - MDHHS release.