topic Re: Tuberculosis in Wellness

Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:38:52 GMT

My daughters roommate and good friend recently got a new job. She had to have a physical when she got hired, part of the physical was a chest x ray, which unfortunately showed black spots. She had to go to another dr., who did more testing. She has latent tuberculosis. She will have to take medicine for I think 12 weeks. The dr. said it is not contagious, but if they don't treat it, it can end up being contagious. The dr. said you could pretty much get it anywhere, it is caused from breathing in a germ. She had no symptoms, by the way. No coughing, or anything. Is TB coming back?

Re: Tuberculosis

NanciJ — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:48:19 GMT

If your daughter hasn't had a TB test already, I would hope that she gets one now. Her roommate may not be contagious, but since they're roommates and close friends, they may have both been infected by the same person. I hope that your daughter is fine, and that her friend does well.

Re: Tuberculosis

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:55:25 GMT

Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Re: Tuberculosis

F1wild — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:58:14 GMT

I know Melanoma patients who were treated with Interferon years ago became extremely susceptible to TB. One of my BFFs (and fellow Melanoma survivors) was diagnosed with TB and went through the treatment and is fine. She never had symptoms either, but we both worked in a children's dental clinic where the kids/families had everything.

I don't think TB has ever been eradicated. I've always been much more wary of TB than HIV (in the dental setting), as HIV is much easier to kill than TB. When purchasing products for office operatories cleaning/sanitizing counters, chairs, etc. I always looked for products that killed TB, then I knew it would get rid of the less virulent bugs.

Re: Tuberculosis

RedTop — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 18:58:39 GMT

TB is, and always has been around, far more than we realize. When I was working, I was usually aware of whether the hospital had patients who tested positive for TB, and how many cases of it were reported to the county health department yearly. Even as adults, we should continue to have the simple test to see if we have, or have been exposed, to TB.

Re: Tuberculosis

sfnative — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:23:16 GMT

There has been an increase in reported cases of TB since the influx of Asian immigrants in the late 60s and early 70s. Additionally, our HIV patients have been hit hard by TB as well.

The TB bacterium has a waxy coating and so is difficult is eradicate and easy to remain latent in the human body. More effective anti-bacterial agents have been developed to fight this ages old disease.

Re: Tuberculosis

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:31:06 GMT

Back in the 60's, during a routine military check-up my late husband's TB test came back that he'd been 'around' someone who had TB.

Back then he was told he didn't have TB but someone he'd been around had it. If I remember right, he took medicine for 1 full year because of this.

I was tested too and my test came back negative.

Re: Tuberculosis

Meeras — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:34:23 GMT

i would suggest to have proper test.

Re: Tuberculosis

glmama — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:03:05 GMT

Wow, I hope that she heals and recuperates well.

I *think* that this is one of those diseases that is coming back. Since my children were born, I am asked at every visit-still to this day-a series of questions about who has come into contact with them. Of course this is a different population with lower immune defenses on some level, but I've read that it is being more vigilantly screened.

Re: Tuberculosis

Madisson — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:25:14 GMT

My nephew's former girlfriend here in SoCAL got TB, and it was active. All of their friends, family, and co-workers had to be tested. No one else had it, although a couple of them showed a positive Mantoux test and had to be checked out further. She was actually brought the medication every day by a nurse from some agency and had to take it in front of her. They said that way they knew people would take it. That went on for at least 6 months.

Re: Tuberculosis

namaste000 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 20:25:17 GMT

Back in 1971 I moved from NY to NC and got job as a hs teacher. The medical form for employment included the TB test. It came back positive! This does NOT mean you had or have TB. The tubercullin germ, as many others, will stay in your body for your lifetime. If your immune system becomes weak, then those germs may become active.

At that time I was told more than half the people in NYC would test positive. I took pills for about a year and have not thought it about it since. Once you test positive, you don't run that test anymore - it will always be in your system so you will always test positive.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:35:58 GMT

On 7/20/2014 namaste000 said:
Back in 1971 I moved from NY to NC and got job as a hs teacher. The medical form for employment included the TB test. It came back positive! This does NOT mean you had or have TB. The tubercullin germ, as many others, will stay in your body for your lifetime. If your immune system becomes weak, then those germs may become active.

At that time I was told more than half the people in NYC would test positive. I took pills for about a year and have not thought it about it since. Once you test positive, you don't run that test anymore - it will always be in your system so you will always test positive.

I don't understand this. Because my dads sister had TB and he always tests positive, but has never had to take any pills. He tests positive on the skin test at the health dept. They nurses told him it was from being exposed to his sister.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:38:35 GMT

On 7/20/2014 NanciJ said:
If your daughter hasn't had a TB test already, I would hope that she gets one now. Her roommate may not be contagious, but since they're roommates and close friends, they may have both been infected by the same person. I hope that your daughter is fine, and that her friend does well.

She got tested about 3 months ago, when she started a new job and was clear. But my dh saw where it takes about 8-10 weeks from exposure to it showing up. So, in essence, if both girls were exposed at the same time, then dds might not have shown up then. Because her friends just showed up last week.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:46:51 GMT

On 7/20/2014 glmama said:
Wow, I hope that she heals and recuperates well.

I *think* that this is one of those diseases that is coming back. Since my children were born, I am asked at every visit-still to this day-a series of questions about who has come into contact with them. Of course this is a different population with lower immune defenses on some level, but I've read that it is being more vigilantly screened.

Thank you, I hope she does too. Her family is not in the picture unless they need something. She does have us and she has some H.S. teachers who are still involved in her life.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:49:22 GMT

On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:
Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Yes, you are right about that. There are lots of folks coming into this country, and who knows what they might be bringing with them.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:51:09 GMT

On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:
Back in the 60's, during a routine military check-up my late husband's TB test came back that he'd been 'around' someone who had TB.

Back then he was told he didn't have TB but someone he'd been around had it. If I remember right, he took medicine for 1 full year because of this.

I was tested too and my test came back negative.

He took medicine for a full year? See, like I posted earlier, daddy's comes back positive and he has never taken anything for it. I don't understand this. I think I will call my dr. in the morning.

Re: Tuberculosis

terrier3 — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:53:44 GMT

On 7/20/2014 happycat said:
On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:
Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Yes, you are right about that. There are lots of folks coming into this country, and who knows what they might be bringing with them.

...and there are a lot of native born people who haven't been able to afford a doctor for years who also may have TB.

When I was a f/t social worker, we saw many people with TB, hepatitis, illnesses you think they would have taken care of. Many street people have these illnesses - and kids whose parents don't believe in shots . This is why universal healthcare is so important. It protects US from the poor sick people all around us - like the guy making burgers at McDs or the cashier at Walmart.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 22:57:51 GMT

On 7/20/2014 Madisson said:
My nephew's former girlfriend here in SoCAL got TB, and it was active. All of their friends, family, and co-workers had to be tested. No one else had it, although a couple of them showed a positive Mantoux test and had to be checked out further. She was actually brought the medication every day by a nurse from some agency and had to take it in front of her. They said that way they knew people would take it. That went on for at least 6 months.

That is just something else. I guess they wanted to make sure she took it, rightfully so.
Well, our girl has to go to the health dept. every week and get it for the next 12 weeks. And the pills are making her sick. She is supposed to talk to another nurse tomorrow.

Re: Tuberculosis

Colonel Meow — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:01:04 GMT

Latent TB is not uncommon in institutionalized populations, such as prisons or state hospitals where individuals live in a communal setting. Most providers working in these settings are required to have yearly PPD tests.

Re: Tuberculosis

happycat — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:03:45 GMT

On 7/20/2014 terrier3 said:
On 7/20/2014 happycat said:
On 7/20/2014 annabellethecat said:
Due to so many people coming into the country who haven't had shots or TB tests, it would be a good idea for elderly to get tested.

There are a lot of diseases that are showing up that we haven't seen in years. Just try googling some of them.

Yes, you are right about that. There are lots of folks coming into this country, and who knows what they might be bringing with them.

...and there are a lot of native born people who haven't been able to afford a doctor for years who also may have TB.

When I was a f/t social worker, we saw many people with TB, hepatitis, illnesses you think they would have taken care of. Many street people have these illnesses - and kids whose parents don't believe in shots . This is why universal healthcare is so important. It protects US from the poor sick people all around us - like the guy making burgers at McDs or the cashier at Walmart.

I was afraid she had gotten it from her mother, who is a drug addict and has been for years. But she it has been several months since they have seen each other.

This was just interesting to me- I asked dd how much the friend had to pay the people at the health dept., who give her the medicine- She said she is not having to pay them anything. I don't know if it is cause she doesn't have insurance yet- Hers will start Aug 1, or what, but I am very thankful.