Old TB , any impact on nursing schools applications, jobs?

[b_m_prosepct]

Hi, everyone:

I am still doing pre-requisites for the nursing school. Today I saw my medical examination results and get worried.

Chest X ray shows:

Calcified Granuloma Parahilar Region due to old healed inflammatory process

Radiologically, no evidence of active pulmonary pathology

Both costophrenic sulct appear intact

====================

About 10 years ago, I had two close friends who got TB, I went to visit them often when they were sick. Maybe that was how I got affected.

But I never felt any sympotom. It all cured by myself. Before the medical exam, I did not even know I was affected and my lungs have calcified points.

When apply for the nursing school, and later on to nursing jobs, will this cause any problem? for example, any limitations on the job I can apply for?

When I am getting older and weaker, will this TB in my lungs come back and becomes active?

Thanks for any advice.

maggie

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

(1) calcified = old TB - not active - so OK and no restrictions on work. :) You should not ever have another PPD test and will likely need to document your non-active status periodically and probably anew for every new employer via chest xray.

(2) You should talk to someone about your options for latent TB prophylaxis (4 month or 9 month course of 1 of 2 different medicines) to prevent your old infection from becoming active.

Good luck!

[b_m_prosepct]

Adelle:

Thanks for your reply. I feel a little bit relieved now.

Could you please tell me what is PPD test? So another PPD test will have negative effect on me?

maggie

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

A PPD is the little shot you get under the skin of your forearm that shows up red and raised when you have the TB germ in your body. It will always be positive in the future, so no need to have it. (You can refer to yourself as a "positive reactor" and that will tell people not to give you a PPD.)

[SueBDoo]

I tested positive during a routine pre-employment physical via a skin test. I have been medically converted. This has never been an issue when applying for or obtaining employment. I just get a chest x-ray Q 2 years instead of a skin test. NO PROBLEM.......dont worry about it. Good luck to you!

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

or it could be old histoplasmosis, especially if you ever lived in the Mississippi-Ohio River Valley area. If it is, you will need an Ophthalmology exam to rule out ocular histo. I recommend a visit with a pulmonologist (take xray along). Otherwise you might be spending time and money in the future worrying about TB exposure when you really were not infected (or vice versa).

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

or it could be old histoplasmosis, especially if you ever lived in the Mississippi-Ohio River Valley area. If it is, you will need an Ophthalmology exam to rule out ocular histo. I recommend a visit with a pulmonologist (take xray along). Otherwise you might be spending time and money in the future worrying about TB exposure when you really were not infected (or vice versa). The good news is, your immune system seems to be intact and doing its job!

[b_m_prosepct]

Hi, Adelle, SueBDoo, purplemania:

Thanks for the explanation and replies. I am going to see a specialist, hope everything is fine! :)

maggie

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

We had several Nigerian nurses who had been given BCG vaccine. They all showed positive PPD.

[b_m_prosepct]

Just let everyone who helped me know:

I just took X-ray again in a big hospital, and with the X-ray I took five years ago, two pulmonologists told me the previous report is WRONG, my lungs are clear. One of the pulmonologists has his own TB clinical. Yes, I have positive PPD test result, but my lungs are clear and no pulmonary influsions.

I'm so angary with the the lady who gave me the previous x-report. Besides, that place charged me only $40 for the whole thing, while the hospital charged my insurance company $150 for the whole thing.

For the $40 price, does that mean report is given by a radiologist, not a doctor?