Posted: 2/12/2004 9:37:08 AM EDT
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I just got an e-mail that my CO was hospitalized with TB. I have had contact with him only at drill about a month ago, and the extent of my contact was shaking hands once. Do I need to mess with going and getting a test? |
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Yes, get a ppd yearly at least for several years. If it becomes positive you need a chest xray and treatment. Your risk is low, FWIW, so don't sweat it. TB is a disease primarily of the debilitated and malnourished. I doubt you are either but that does not mean that you cannot harbor the organism for decades until you are weakened and susceptible. |
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Quoted: well, this guy is neither debilitated nor malnourished, and neither am I. Well, you never know what all is going on. No matter how healthy, a large infectious dose can overwhelm your defenses. Shit...I hate needles Me too! The ppd is a very tiny needle and the antigen is injected actually into the skin, not deeper(that would defeat the purpose of the test). |
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If you're in the military you get tested every year anyways. You've probably been getting it all along and just didn't know what it was for. Like DrJarhead said, your risk is minimal with the contact you've described, unless you were habitually letting him cough on you or licking flat dusty areas of his living and work spaces. Those who are most at risk for TB are people who spend a good amount of time around those that are ill with the active form of TB. The Mantoux/PPD(protein purified derivative)test is the smallest needle you can get, it barely goes into the most superficial layer of your skin, so no whining allowed. It needs to be read within 48-72 hours after the shot. A positive result means you need to go for a chest x-ray, maybe medication, and will be a "converter" who has no need for the test again. One you test positive and go on medication you will test positive for TB for life. Your yearly "test" will be a converter form asking you if you have bloody sputum in your cough, night sweats, fever or haver lost weight. |