Can TB germs be transmitted through saliva?

JAKARTA – Tuberculosis or TB is a disease caused by infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria can enter the lungs and cause sufferers to experience shortness of breath accompanied by chronic coughing.

TB is an infectious disease. Usually TB bacteria are transmitted through infected droplets in the air. Once these droplets enter the air, anyone nearby can inhale them. A person with TB can transmit the bacteria through sneezing, coughing, talking and singing.

So, can dried saliva still transmit TB bacteria?

Lung Specialist Doctor Prof. Dr. dr. Erlina Burhan, M.Sc., Sp.P(K) explained, in TB patients, the germs can be found in their phlegm. But sometimes if the germs are too many, they can be found in saliva.

“That’s why we doctors often advise patients not to spit out phlegm carelessly,” said Dr. Erlina, as quoted from the X account @erlinaburhan, Sunday (6/30/2024).

Doctors certainly have reasons why TB patients should not throw phlegm carelessly. Namely, you are worried that your saliva or phlegm still contains lots of germs.

“So in certain conditions, namely when the phlegm or saliva is dry, the germs still survive and evaporate into the air, then are inhaled by other people,” he explained.

However, for TB patients who throw their saliva or phlegm outside, the TB germs are usually killed by sunlight.

“So if the saliva or phlegm is removed and then exposed to very strong sunlight, usually even though it dries, the germs will die,” concluded Dr. Erlina.

(tsa)