Tuberculosis - Page 4

happycat · ‎09-18-2010

On 7/20/2014 Colonel Meow said:
On 7/20/2014 happycat said:
On 7/20/2014 Colonel Meow said:
On 7/20/2014 happycat said:
On 7/20/2014 Colonel Meow said:
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.

And prior to this job she recently got, she was working in an institution type place. She went from that job to this one. And had to have yearly TB tests, that always came back negative.
She didn't know if any of those people had TB. Would her supervisor not needed to have told her? My sister worked there as well, in a different location as a supervisor, and she told me she always told her workers when there was a health issue such as this. But, she said the other supervisors may not have.

So, if I am working for some company, and there is a TB patient there who I am taking care of, does my superior not have to tell me because of HIPPA or something? Thank you.

As a provider, I am always aware of which patients have TB, HIV, etc. A number of patients that I regularly see have latent TB, which is not communicable. Certain factors can cause active TB to develop, but this is few and far between. We don't treat the latent TB cases any differently than anyone else because it is not possible to contract active TB from someone with latent TB. Does that make sense to you? (lol)

Yes, I understand that. My issue is she didn't get it from someone with latent TB. She has been exposed to it from someone with active TB, possibly at her old job. And that to me, could be a problem.

Of course, I can't speak for the protocol at your daughter's place of work - but at my hospital, any provider handling a patient with active TB would most certainly be made aware of it.

That is what I was wondering, thank you. That, in my opinion is the way it ought to be.

Clover29 · ‎03-09-2010

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.

Asian countries aren't thrilled about what people might be taking to them, either. I spent a year in China as a student in 1980-81, and I had to be tested for both TB and venereal disease before they'd grant me a visa.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 7/20/2014 kachina624 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.

Everytime the US admits a large number of aliens from other countries, there is a rise in the TB rate. This happened with Vietnamese refugees and could possibly happen with all the people entering the country from Central America. I spent two weeks in a nursing home/rehab facility after a knee replacement and had to have a TB test to comply with state law.

I spent many years working in a public office. On a couple of occasions we were notified by the health department that our employees were possibly exposed to TB by a client. Everyone was offered free TB testing. Nobody ever tested positive.

When my family came here from Italy and Germany, they had to take a TB test. Anyone positive was sent home.

People with working visas have to be tested now too.

champagnepoodle · ‎09-26-2011

TB is definitely on the rise. It comes from tons of people getting into the US that are very ill, and contagious.

pitdakota · ‎03-16-2010

TB is a communicable disease that has never been eradicated or eliminated in any country on the globe, including the United States. In the United States, we consider this disease to be under "control".

There has always been thousands of cases of active TB reported to the CDC every year. The diagnosis of active TB must be reported by law in the United States. And the number of cases will ebb and flow over the years. Sometimes we go through periods of time where the rate is higher, sometimes it is lower. That has been occurring for the past 3 decades & it can be associated with many things.

Worldwide, the countries with the most cases of TB are in Asia and Africa.

Some might be surprised to know that a significant number of healthcare employees have a positive PPD skin test, but don't have TB. At some point over time they have been exposed enough to have a positive PPD skin test, but don't have the infection. Therefore, in order to meet regulations for testing, they have to have chest x-rays instead of the PPD skin test. Not uncommon at all.

Glad your daughter was diagnosed with a latent infection, instead of active TB. Encourage her to make sure and take her medication. I think it is somewhere around 5-10% of people with a latent infection will develop active TB if not treated, so it is important to make sure she takes her medication as prescribed.

* Freedom has a taste the protected will never know *

happycat · ‎09-18-2010

Thank you all for your replies. You ladies are very smart and informative, I just wish I knew where she got it. I thought maybe she got it at work, but I talked to someone in management there, and she said she didn't think anyone there has ever had an active TB case. So, it could very well be like the Dr. told her and she could have got this at Wal-Mart or anywhere. Scary stuff.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 7/20/2014 champagnepoodle said:
TB is definitely on the rise. It comes from tons of people getting into the US that are very ill, and contagious.

There are PLENTY of people here who infect others.

In fact, most of the traced cases of TB and hepatitis come from poorly paid fast food workers and cashiers - people who can't afford health insurance - and homeless people.

You CANNOT enter the USA on a visa w/o a TB test. This was true even back when my grandparents came over on a boat from Italy.

esmeraldagooch · ‎03-10-2010

On 7/21/2014 terrier3 said:
On 7/20/2014 champagnepoodle said:
TB is definitely on the rise. It comes from tons of people getting into the US that are very ill, and contagious.

There are PLENTY of people here who infect others.

In fact, most of the traced cases of TB and hepatitis come from poorly paid fast food workers and cashiers - people who can't afford health insurance - and homeless people.

You CANNOT enter the USA on a visa w/o a TB test. This was true even back when my grandparents came over on a boat from Italy.

VISA? That is SO old school.