Tuberculosis

[itsmyturn]

Here is the deal. I have been sitting in a CNA class for the last 3 weeks next to a guy who I just found out has TB. He says he is a carrier and can not spread the infection but I read that there are no carriers to this disease. He did say that he just found out last week about it while getting his physical and is now on medicine for the next 9 months. Shouldn't he have told the instructor and the class? Am I as well as everyone else around him at risk for getting TB? I have read a bit but it is still kind of confusing where the line is drawn.

[Katnip, RN]

Was he an active case? Was he coughing? If you're really concerned, talk to you PHP.

http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35778

From the National Lung Assocition website:

It is important to understand that there is a difference between being infected with TB and having TB disease. Someone who is infected with TB has the TB germs, or bacteria, in their body. The body's defenses are protecting them from the germs and they are not sick. This is referred to as latent TBI.

[IndyGal]

It's probably a latent TB infection. I have that myself. My doctor told me that current procedure is to go ahead and treat people for it anyway, so if they ever develop a weakened immune system later on then they don't have to worry about it becoming active. I was diagnosed so long ago, though (20 years), that I never did the meds. The only difference for me is that I have to submit chest x-rays in place of skin test results to prove that I'm negative.

[itsmyturn]

Thanks, your probably right and I figured it was latent because the teacher did not seem to freak but he was in the middle of telling the teacher at the end of the class and then ran out into the hall upset over a small matter and that was when he told me. I am sure that the teacher would have kept him away. And, he has not had a cough either. Thanks so much...great relief.

[PageRespiratory!]

If you really want to be sure, go get a PPD. It's a simple, almost painless test.

[oneLoneNurse]

It's probably a latent TB infection. I have that myself. My doctor told me that current procedure is to go ahead and treat people for it anyway, so if they ever develop a weakened immune system later on then they don't have to worry about it becoming active. I was diagnosed so long ago, though (20 years), that I never did the meds. The only difference for me is that I have to submit chest x-rays in place of skin test results to prove that I'm negative.

Me too and I never bothered with the meds.

[CyndieRN2007]

Yeah, he was probably positive of PPD. Chest xray q2 years and meds, if the Doc thinks they are needed.