What is Tuberculosis TB
Tuberculosis (commonly abbreviated to TB) is an infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which most commonly affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can also affe...
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Positive TB test
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Ok so I was tested for TB ( the skin test) a while ago this year and my test read positive for TB. But they acted like it was no biggie and just said I could be a carrier and that I would have to be monitored. However I never heard anything after that. Now my RA doctor (rheumatologist) found out I tested positive and was upset that I was never put on any meds. So he thought that maybe someone made a mistake and that I am not positive for TB. He gave me the skin test again it looks like it did when they said it was positive. But I heard that if you test positive for it once that you will always test positive for it....so shouldn't I be tested a different way?
I'm confused...as you can see.. Can anyone help me out with some advice or info?? thank you = ) Posted on 10/09/08, 10:10 pm |
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Yes, if you test positive once you will always test positive. Once someone tests positive you will never be required to take the skin test again. You get a chest x-ray done.
If you tested positive they should have sent you straight to get a chest x-ray. If you showed no signs they could have either done further testing or just put you on one of a couple meds to keep the risk of you getting active TB down. Typically people are placed on INH - Isoniazid. I HATED that medicine. Either way, its about a 9 month med treatment. Theres a dormant TB meaning you came into contact with it and theres the active kind and thats obviously no good. You pretty much just to the med treatment and move on knowing you'll never have to be poked with that crap ever again. 
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Hi, I joined this group to try to help people in anyway I can. I just went through a horrible ordeal with having a positive skin test myself. My Dr. told me I had a positive TB skin test and said I had "Latent TB". Later, after becoming very sick from terrible side effects from the Latent TB med and having an inflamed liver, I ended up seeing an Infectious Disease Dr. (they know a lot more than MD's about TB) I was given a test called " Quantiferon TB Gold Test", it is a simple blood test and it will determine if you really have Latent TB. My test came back Negative, my Dr. was wrong, I never even had it.
My advice to you would be to get this test done and make sure you really have it. If you do end up having a positive test, make sure you look into all of the side effects of the medication and do some research on the subject. I learned from research and from the Infectious Disease Dr. that if you do have Latent TB, there is a 5-10% chance that it will turn into TB someday. The medications for Latent TB are harsh on the liver, and the side effects can be scary, make sure you know everything before you start treatment ( if you decide to) It is the patients choice whether or not to start treatment after weighing the risk of being on the med versus the risk of getting TB. I hope this helps.
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HI, I"m new here. I just recently had a positive skin test. The department of health is handling my case. The doc there has told me I need to take the meds because it completely cures the TB. I got a second opinion from my PCP and he agreed. I'm very nervouse about being on the drug. However, with having no insurance I've been told that the State will only help you through the situation for free for a small window of time. I have such mixed emotions about the meds. However, I have had many health problems and asthma is a big one. I"m afraid of what the disease could do to me if it becomes active. Just scared.
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I went to Doctor, did the chest x-ray, and it came back NONACTIVED!
GOD IS GOOD !
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