Which statement best describes Latent TB Infection?

Which statement best describes Latent TB Infection?

• A. Positive TB skin or blood test, with symptoms and contagious
• B. Positive TB skin or blood test, with no symptoms and chest X-ray usually normal
• C. Negative TB test but symptomatic
• D. Positive test with cavitation on X-ray

Answer: (B)

Latent TB infection means you’ve been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, you have no symptoms, you’re not contagious, and the chest X-ray is usually normal. The immune system keeps the bacteria in check, so there’s no active disease or transmission, even though a TB test (skin test or blood test) is positive due to immune memory. This distinguishes it from active TB, which would present with symptoms like coughing and fever, potential contagiousness, and chest imaging or microbiology showing active disease such as cavitation or infiltrates. So the best description is a positive test with no symptoms and a normal chest X-ray.

Latent TB infection means you’ve been infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, you have no symptoms, you’re not contagious, and the chest X-ray is usually normal. The immune system keeps the bacteria in check, so there’s no active disease or transmission, even though a TB test (skin test or blood test) is positive due to immune memory. This distinguishes it from active TB, which would present with symptoms like coughing and fever, potential contagiousness, and chest imaging or microbiology showing active disease such as cavitation or infiltrates. So the best description is a positive test with no symptoms and a normal chest X-ray.