Tuberculosis scare hits Chicago

Just weeks after the city trumpeted the lowest TB rates ever in Chicago, TB is back, and a doctor may have exposed hundreds of infants and co-workers to the disease.

It's a scary thing to think that a health care worker might have exposed you or your child to something like TB. It's a pretty good bet that there was no intended malice on this doctor's part. Nevertheless, investigations are ongoing to see who may have been affected.

If you think you or your child might be infected with TB, here are the symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Chills
• Loss of appetite

Tuberculosis usually attacks your lungs. Signs and symptoms of TB of the lungs include:

• Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
• Coughing up blood
• Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing

If you need to be tested or treated, the City of Chicago has four specialty clinics that deal with TB. There's also a wealth of resources on the city's Web site.

Chicago's TB clinics:

• Englewood Neighborhood Health Center
  641 W. 63^rd St.
  Chicago, IL 60621
  Phone: (312) 747-2443
  Fax: (312) 745-0282
  
  
• Uptown Neighborhood Health Center
  845 W. Wilson
  Chicago, IL 60644
  Phone: (312) 744-1295
  Fax: (312) 742-1814
  
  
• West Town Neighborhood Health Center
  2418 W. Division
  Chicago, IL 60622
  Phone: (312) 742-2418
  Fax: (312) 742-1629
  
  
• Lawndale Christian Health Center (subcontract site)
  3860 W. Ogden Ave.
  Chicago, IL 60623
  Phone: (773) 843-3002
  Fax: (773) 521-5017