I work in a psychiatric research hospital that deals with in and out patients (where a Mantoux test is mandatory for all employees and volunteers). Just wondering if anyone else has had a positive result of the test and what the procedures were following that (or if there are any nurses here who know that the deal is!). I know I'll have to go on a course of antibiotics, but will they allow me to continue working during those months?
(As of now they say it's either a positive reaction or an allergic reaction...I'm going in for my second reading tomorrow...and it looks the same as the first: red and itchy with a bump! I have no overt symptoms of TB.)
2006-10-18 02:11:59 · 6 answers · asked by Mars 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
If you are working in the United States, yes you will be able to continue working. I am assuming you do, since the Matoux test is not routinely used elsewhere in the world ordinarily. A positive test means at some point you have been exposed to Tuberculosis. It doesn't mean you have Tuberculosis. The test is checking to see if you have antibodies, produced when the immune system was exposed and attacked the bacillus. You may have sucessfully fought off the disease, or it could be in an inactive state in your body. If they determine you have a positive test, most likely the next step will be a chest x-ray to make sure you don't actually have active Tuberculosis. Once they decide you don't, you will be given a medication which can kill Tuberculosis in the inactive state. Normally this is taken for a year, and you will have a liver function test (blood test) taken periodically to make sure you aren't having problems with the medicine. During all this time, you will be allowed to work as usual. If the test is determined to be positive, you should also NEVER have another skin test done again. You will always react to it, and each reaction can get, and usually does get, larger and can make the lower arm swell. You will have to take chest x-rays from now on, instead of the annual Mantoux skin test.
I was career military medical, as a paramedic and nurse. We gave TB tests all the time, and had to take them. It's much more scary than it needs to be, unfortunately. People still have the old ideas about TB, and they just aren't true anymore. You won't be quaranteened anywhere, or sent to some special hospital. Even if you have a case of active TB, it is not untreatable. There are antibiotics that will treat it, and quickly. You are not considered to be a public health threat, in any case- even if you work in a hospital. TB is a very slow growing bacteria, and it really doesn't spread that easily. So relax as much as you can, it will work out and won't be anything as bad as you dread or worry about. No sweat, really.
2006-10-18 02:40:38 · answer #1 · answered by The mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could just be an allergic reaction, if the second one is positive, they will do a chest x-ray to rule out TB and as long as you don't have any symptoms, I don't know why you would have to take antibiotics. You should be able to continue working.
2006-10-18 02:20:58 · answer #2 · answered by Candi S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On entering medical school the class was told anyone with a negative TB skin test would be positive in a couple of years and we were. Most medical professionals are positive. So what? They are not going to fire you or they would have no employees.
2006-10-18 02:45:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did they do a chest x ray? that's frequently the subsequent step after a favorable attempt in the previous taking the poisonous drugs. If he extremely has TB he could be quarantined. keep in mind that American guy who flew to Europe with suspected TB......government became in touch. To ease your thoughts maximum advantageous TB attempt are using an allergy to the finding out answer. i could truthfully look for advice out of your youngster's pediatrician and you scientific provider.
2016-10-02 10:17:52 · answer #4 · answered by schugmann 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can still work as long as you have no symptoms or evidence of infection. First of all, you will need to have a chest x-ray every two years to rule out active TB, and you may or may not have to take prophylactic tb meds even if you do not have active tb.
2006-10-18 02:33:03 · answer #5 · answered by dubbie 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The following site may help sort it all out...it can be confusing! lol
2006-10-18 05:09:24 · answer #6 · answered by huggz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋