Riverside City College student diagnosed with tuberculosis
Riverside County health officials are warning the public to be on alert after a college student was diagnosed this week with tuberculosis.
The Riverside City College student, whose name was not released, is undergoing treatment and is expected to recover, according to the county Department of Public Health.
The department sent letters notifying students and their parents about the diagnosis. College officials are also notifying staffers who may have been exposed.
Without treatment, tuberculosis can cause serious health complications including spinal pain, liver or kidney damage, and meningitis. Symptoms include coughing, weight loss and fatigue. The disease spreads through close contact, including breathing in air exhaled by an infected person.
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county health officer, cautioned that the risk of transmission is low, but that anyone who received a letter from the college should be tested for tuberculosis.
“It will provide peace of mind for those who are concerned about being exposed or begin the next step in the evaluation process,” Kaiser said.
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