Some parents now deciding whether to have their children tested for tuberculosis.

A student at Oak Hammock Middle School in Tice has tested positive for the disease.  The Lee County school sent letters home with all children who were in the same classes with the infected student.

The health department is asking parents of those children to have them tested for the disease on monday.

Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease spread through close contact with airborne droplets.

Some symptoms include: 

Coughing...especially coughing up blood or mucus

Unexplained weakness

Loss of appetite

Chest pain

The Health Department says it can take up to five years from the time of infection for symptoms to show up.