HELP! I am 16 weeks pregnant and have been exposed to active TB!!!

[proudmommielpn]

Hello, I am freaking out! My OB doc says not to worry but still. I am pregnant after 9 years that they told me I wouldn't be able to have another child and I feel like this child is going to be a miracle and then I get exposed to TB! I work in a center where students come in so they can be trained for a job depending on their disability ie. spinal cord injury, CP, TBI ect. Anyway, we had a student come in and we routinely give them a TB skin test when they come to the center. This student looked healthy, no productive cough or anything. We gave the TB skin test and he came up positive being like 20mm's. We sent him home to have further tests. He called the next day and stated that his CXRAY came up positive for TB but he was in the latent phase according to his MD. I have given myself a TB skin test and it came up negative, and I was only around him maybe 2 hours the whole 4 days he was there. Should I be worried? Or is this just my nerves taking over? Help me!

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

You where not exposed to "active " TB if the chest x-ray showed that he was in a "latent" phase. Try not to worry.

I was exposed to active TB while I was 14 weeks pregnant. Patient, 88 year old lady, had a wet productive cough and a weeping chest tube post-op thoracotomy. At the time I cared for the patient it was not known that she had TB. She had previously been admitted at another hospital in town and had been diagnosed but the family "forgot" to tell us. It was discovered after the pulmonologist requested the records from the other hospital. She was tested again and was diagnoses with active TB. I was tested 2 days after exposure (neg), at 3 months (neg) and then again at 6 months (neg). I had done alot of research on the subject and was pretty much relieved to find that my un-born child was at little risk. He was born in February and is perfect!

[SmilingBluEyes]

You where not exposed to "active " TB if the chest x-ray showed that he was in a "latent" phase. Try not to worry.

I was exposed to active TB while I was 14 weeks pregnant. Patient, 88 year old lady, had a wet productive cough and a weeping chest tube post-op thoracotomy. At the time I cared for the patient it was not known that she had TB. She had previously been admitted at another hospital in town and had been diagnosed but the family "forgot" to tell us. It was discovered after the pulmonologist requested the records from the other hospital. She was tested again and was diagnoses with active TB. I was tested 2 days after exposure (neg), at 3 months (neg) and then again at 6 months (neg). I had done alot of research on the subject and was pretty much relieved to find that my un-born child was at little risk. He was born in February and is perfect!

excellent advice. Try not to worry too much. Even exposed, your chances of becoming ill or ill effects to your fetus are small. Just follow up and get the care/exams/treatments recommended by your OB. I am so sorry for all your worry. It's not unfounded, but I want to reassure you, most likely all will be just fine. ((((warm gentle hugs))))

[proudmommielpn]

excellent advice. Try not to worry too much. Even exposed, your chances of becoming ill or ill effects to your fetus are small. Just follow up and get the care/exams/treatments recommended by your OB. I am so sorry for all your worry. It's not unfounded, but I want to reassure you, most likely all will be just fine. ((((warm gentle hugs))))

Thanks guys!!!!!!!