Why am I TB positive?

Question

I am asian Indian , and I was in shock when the nurse discovered I was tb positive. I couldn't believe it. She told me I was exposed to someone and caught the germs when they coughed. I don't get it , i have a few questions. i know i have to get chest x-rays but I want to know who could have gave it to me, could someone from a different country gave it to me. Can I pass it to my future husband, will i pass it when im pregnant? Can I get the diesease in the future?

thank you for the information, im not too worried i just want to know more about it. h

no i havent taken a tb test since last year and that was negative but someone close to me has had shest pains religiously , can this be a symptom , no weight loss, night sweats or anything like that.The doctor said it was nothing there. Does one symptom mean anything ?

Answer 1

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs. But, TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States.

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. People who are not sick have what is called latent TB infection. People who have latent TB infection do not feel sick, do not have any symptoms, and cannot spread TB to others. But, some people with latent TB infection go on to get TB disease.

People with active TB disease can be treated and cured if they seek medical help. Even better, people with latent TB infection can take medicine so that they will not develop active TB disease.

Answer 2

there are actually a number of things that can make a tb test positive without you actually being tb positive.

get a second test done just to make sure the first test was not some sort of freak of nature. If the second test is positive it is time to investigate why.

A person can be tb positive for a lot of reasons. All the test does is look for a specific imprint in the body. Swelling from the test can be because of an allergic reaction, or because you have another problem that makes the same situation appear in your body...like a lung problem, or you could in fact be tb positive.

The next course of action is a blood test to look for specific antibodies in the blood that show without a doubt that the body is attempting to fight off this tb delimma. If the blood work does not show the antibodies that is one knock off your plate.

Tb is a serious health matter, it is also known as the red cough from the renaissance era in Europe. Called that because people would caugh so hard blood expelled through the mouth from the lungs. There is a rare case where people can be tb positive and show no signs of infection. These people are called carriers. If by chance you came in contact with a carrier that could answer how you became tb positive.

Answer 3

Did you recently have a TB skin test. Was your last test negative? If so, you have recently been exposed to Tuberculosis. The nurse or physician is probably asking you questions to find out if you have symptoms. You should have a Chest Xray to help determine if you have active disease or simple exposure. If it appears that you have been exposed and do not have active disease, you will be treated with medication as a prophylaxis for several months. In this case, you are not infectious, meaning you cannot spread the disease. You probably should not get pregnant while taking the medication but once you're done with the therapy, it should be safe and you cannot transmit anything to a partner or baby. If it turns out that you have active disease, you'll be treated with a standard regimen of medication and after a couple of weeks you will no longer be in an infectious state and there will be no danger to those around you. Generally, one should be careful of anyone around who has a persistent cough, has experienced weight loss, night sweats, etc., some of the symptoms of pulmonary (lung) TB. Countries with a less developed medical infrastructure do report more cases of TB than, for example, the US. More cases are reported in institutions such as prisons, where there is close congregation. You should be screened-certain questions asked-to find the exposure and allow that person to be treated as well. As for getting the disease in the future, yes-anyone can be infected if exposed.

Answer 4

Alot of times being exposed to someone can cause you to have a positive TB skin test but it doesn't mean you have active TB. Also if someone has TB they are never actually cured-the disease just becomes inactive meaning that they can't spread it. You will more than likely be put on a series of medications for 6 months and then have periodical chest Xrays. Don't sweat it until you have more answers. My mom is a nurse (as am i) and she had this same problem and she took the meds and has xrays every so often and she has never had active TB or signs of TB on the Xrays. Hope all goes well!!

Answer 5

You will not for sure untill you have the chest x ray if you had a skin tb test you could have had a false positive test happened to me once

Answer 6

to be honest with you, MOST people, regardless of race, are positive for TB and they don't even know it. well I shouldn't say positive, more like exposed. we have to get tested every year here at work and I was positive for it. you can, if you want, take medications for it, but really the chance of it maturing and killing you is slim to none really with all the medical advancement we have. in 2001 there were 749 deaths in the US and it really doesn't take effect until you are old because your immune system starts to weaken. even so, studies show people with TB actually die from other natural causes. like I said, you can take medications if you want but you have to take it for 2 years straight, every day. if I remember it only brings your chances of it NOT maturing to 85% opposed to 80% if you didn't take the medications. its nothing really to worry about, but if you are worried about it consult your doctor.

Answer 7

tb can 90% of the time be cured. i had a scare where i might have been exposed so i was looking all this stuff up. you have to take pills for a year. after 2 weeks of treatment you cant spread it to anyone else.

Answer 8

i actually was ppd convert back in 96...i was exposed to it in some 3rd world country i was while serving in the marines..for 6 months i had to take INH therapy and a vitamin b6 pill ..i have had no TB symptoms ever..just cause you test positive does mean you will ever be a carrier..just lie aids...

DON'T WORRY!

Answer 9

It could be you HAD it. You still have positive reactions... look into google... put in TB Positive and read. Actually it isn't as bad as what you might think.

Answer 10

Your immune system has the bug confined in your lungs and its likely that that is all will happen. Eventually when you get older and your immune system weakens, you may get TB. It's harmless now and probably will stay that way.