do you have 10mm TB reaction?

we_rn · Oct 1, 2003

The next step is to have a chest x-ray to see if you indeed have an active case of TB. There are several reasons why you man have tested positive. You may have been exposed but not infected and that is why you are testing positive. A cxr will let you know for sure. Don't worry. If you are infected tb is easily cured but it is very important that you complete the treatmet.:)

MarcusKspn · Oct 1, 2003

My TB test always came back completely negative, no reaction at all. When I took my yearly test in Feb 2002 it was positive with 12 cm, large red swollen area. I never took care of any TB positive patients, the only place where the Health Department thought I might have been infected was when we had the Big Ice storm in western oklahoma that year. I was working with the Red Cross and helping in the shelter where we had up to 5000 people come through each day. I had to have the chest x-ray to rule out an active infection, and go through 6 months of Izoniazid and B6. The treatment really wasn't bad, no horror stories there from me. You just have to take a couple pills every day for a long time, that gets kinda old. You have to find time to go to the health department and pick up your meds every month, and they drew blood on me every month to check my liver functions. IZN has a dendency to raise your Liver enzymes. After 6 months I was done, got a letter from the Health department saying I went to the treatment and to tell my future employers to do chest x-rays instead of skin tests. And that was my experience with TB. Hope it was helpfull for you.

MisterArnold · Oct 1, 2003

I have tested positive for many years and have never taken any medications - just had the xrays. Do not have any more skin tests for TB because once you test positive you are at risk for a major skin reaction if you repeat the test. Just tell whoever needs to know that you are a TB reactant and can't take the skin test anymore.

nowplayingEDRN · Oct 8, 2003

I tested positive back in 1998 or 99.......had a CXR, that was negative. However, the Occ Health Nurse where I work wanted me to go through the propholaxysis(sp) meds (Although I had been exposed to TB in the past...the only other place that I have been that I could have been exposed was when I worked with the dually diagnosed) I tried the INH but it made my migraines 10x worse, so I stopped and let Occ Health know. I ended up going to see an infectious disease doc who said I could very well have had an allercic reaction to the ttest serum because we were required to take TB tests so frequently where I used to work and said that if I felt the medication was making another health issue worse that he saw no harm in going off the meds. He did strongly emphasized that if I ever got a severe URI I was to get a chest x-ray immediately to ensure I had not developed an actual case of TB.....so far I have been just fine. Just remember that once you test positive, you can no longer take the skin test and must go for a yearly CXR.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Oct 9, 2003

I am so far 0 mm on my PPD (altho I haven't the faintest idea how I've avoided exposure for this long.)

I have many patients who are taking the INH for 9 months and a few on Rifampin (shorter course of four months but more expensive.) If I showed positive tomorrow, I personally would take the medicine (had occasion to think about it this year when I had a significant exposure to someone who turned out to have active TB.)

Shellsie · Oct 9, 2003

i converted to positive ppd during nursing school/working as a cna in the nursing home. i had a chest xray and it was clear so i didnt have to take meds...

LilRedRN1973 · Oct 9, 2003

We have a student in our nursing program who is 14mm but it's because she's from Czechoslovakia and has had the vaccine. I'm not sure what she does...I think she has the Xray done. But the woman at the clinic told her the new standard is 15mm for a positive reaction. It doesn't bother her because of it being from a vaccine.

flowerchild · Oct 9, 2003

I had a positive ppd. 12mm to be exact. Had annual xray, took INH for 6 months without adverse effects, and just recently went to the health dept for f/u cxr. I hadn't had one in several years. They did not want to do the cxr. Said they had been over radiating people with high rad xrays on yearly basis and now feel it's just too many xrays for non symptomatic carriers. I had to beg them to get it done. I need it now for my new job anyway but my last employer did not require it. I carry a card that states I've completed my INH and I provide it to employers.

While I was in the HD I was reading all the TB literature in the waiting room of the TB clinic. I read that the conversion rate on a person who has a pos ppd is very low, under 2%? I think. Anyway, I read the medication information sheet on the Isonizid and it said that a pos ppd pt that completes the medication regimine has a conversion TB rate of, under 2%?. It was almost the same conversion rate. Go figure. I finished my regimine anyway but was wondering why we need to take it if the conversion rates are similar.

I had my first Lupus symptoms after completing the medication. After researching it, I found possible links to the medication. The medication does come with some risks and you must decide what is best for you. I would say to be very cautious if you have Lupus in your family or any liver problems. I do believe we have a genetic disposition for Lupus despite some of the info I have read that is to the contrary. Don't fret about it, the HD will help you do everything you need to do. You don't have to take the medication to stay employed. A neg. cxr is all you need.

I didn't know about the previous mention risk. If I had, I probably would not have taken the medication. Do read the latest studies. The CDC is a good place to start. Read the manufacturers inserts for the medication and refer to the PDR.

Make your decision for what is best for you. When I decided to go ahead with the medicaiton for 6 mo, I felt it was better to try and do something to help keep the TB non active, than not do anything at all but now I do wish I would have done a little more research at the time.