The health care worker should explain that anyone can get TB. TB spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, spraying TB germs into the air. Others may breathe in these germs and become infected. Patients must also understand the importance of making sure all family members exposed to the disease (contacts) who have symptoms of TB go to the closest health care facility for screening of TB. In particular, children under age 5 should be screened, because they are at risk of developing severe forms of the disease. .
