+ Ppd?

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.

I had a PPD done last week. After 48 hrs it was pink/red (it was oval shaped, like maybe a centimeter long), and I do admit there was a bit of induration... there was no well defined border to the induration, tho. The RN (also head of Employee Health) said it was negative and was only 1mm of induration. She said since I have VERY fair skin (you can literally see right through my skin almost!) and red hair, I am definitely more likely to get that red irritation. I showed my PCP yesterday (even tho it was a week old) and she said + PPDs normally look like a blister or boil and have a well defined area of induration. She said from what she can tell from my week old PPD it looks like a negative. (Yes, after a week there's still a pink area, although it is slowly fading)

I had my 2nd one done yesterday afternoon. Although it's only been 24 hr, its got a pink area slightly larger than a nickel. The area is warm to the touch, no itching or soreness. There's no induration yet.

I guess I'm just afraid I will test + and have to miss a day of work (I plan to get it read tomorrow, but I am supposed to work Thu & Fri). My mom tells me "You're just like your father... Always worrying about something."

Has anyone else had a + PPD?

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I have had a positive ppd, it was a 27mm reaction with redness and induration. Don't worry, a positive ppd looks positive. I am fair skinned too but it was a big wheel and not itchy or warm at all.

I was exposed to tb during my work with elders in home health on an Indian reservation. I had a chest x-ray (neg) and took INH for nine months, now I think it's 6 months.

I didn't miss any work. Since I had a positive ppd and a negative chest, it means that I was exposed to TB but had not had any colonization. I killed all the TB with the INH. Now, the theory is, that if I get exposed again to TB, I will have enough antibodies to fight it off. It ends up being kinda positive.

I guess you'll have to find something else to worry about. Good luck. Debra

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I had my 2nd one done yesterday afternoon. Although it's only been 24 hr, its got a pink area slightly larger than a nickel.

But is the pink area "raised"? The reddness doesn't matter, only the induration. My whole arm turns red, and itches and hurts really bad when I have them done, but they are negative because I don't have indurations.

Kinda wish it was positive one time so I didnt' have to keep getting that done every two years :bugeyes:

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I am allergic----at least that is what corp health nurse told me. As far as I know it is the only thing in this world I am allergic too. But that means I dont have to take the test, I just do a signs and symptoms sheet. Weight loss? gee I wish...NO. Night sweats? NO. Bloody cough--ewww. NO.

FYI, mine got red, firmly swollen and was about the size of a quarter. Lasted for almost a week.

A cousin of mine is also allergic, he had it done a second time and his arm swelled up like a balloon.

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Specializes in Assisted Living, Med-Surg/CVA specialty.
But is the pink area "raised"? The reddness doesn't matter, only the induration. My whole arm turns red, and itches and hurts really bad when I have them done, but they are negative because I don't have indurations.

Kinda wish it was positive one time so I didnt' have to keep getting that done every two years :bugeyes:

No, not yet:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
no, not yet:uhoh3:

don't worry about it then!

don't borrow trouble. even if it is possible, it's not a biggie. just means probably you've been around someone that has it. most healthcare workers eventually test positive. they just give you some anti-tb meds that you take six months. after that, you don't have to do the skin test anymore. just get a chest xray once, and then fill out a form once a year showing you don't have any symptoms. so, in the mean time....

calm down! :nurse:

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.

Well...Like you, I'm fair skinned and red-headed. I'm allergic to everything. Seriously. I had allergy testing and reacted off-the-chart on the 50+ allergens they exposed me to. So when I had my Tb test in 2001, I developed the redness that I had every one of the 6 years before that. This time, however, the technician called it positive. Just redness, no induration. I asked several other co-workers (docs, nurses, etc.) to look at it. They all called it neg. However, since I was in the military at the time, and the girl who called it pos was in a specialized position, the final call was hers and I had to do the INH/B12 treatment. Which I guess is fine. BUT! Now that I've supposedly converted, I can't get tested again. How will I ever know if I truly convert and really need the INH therapy? I guess my advice would that if there's any discrepancy over the results, take it to the highest level possible so you are treated appropriately.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.
i am allergic----at least that is what corp health nurse told me. as far as i know it is the only thing in this world i am allergic too. but that means i dont have to take the test, i just do a signs and symptoms sheet. weight loss? gee i wish...no. night sweats? no. bloody cough--ewww. no.

fyi, mine got red, firmly swollen and was about the size of a quarter. lasted for almost a week.

a cousin of mine is also allergic, he had it done a second time and his arm swelled up like a balloon.

same problem here--i am a lily-white strawberry blond, and since florida requires a two-step ppd and i changed jobs twice in one year (a different story!!) i wound up having a horrible reaction that was indurated and ginormous after ppd #5 in 10 months.

negative chest x-rays and no known exposure--but no more ppd's for me!!:nono:

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