I was exposed to TB and I want to know does that mean I actually have TB like someone who is active?

Question

I'm not ashamed or anything,just curious as to what my T.B status is.Thanks...

Answer 1

Nope. Exposure is different from active disease. You might want to get a Mantoux (PPD) test. If your rash is larger than a centimeter in the widest diameter, it confirms your exposure (not the disease). Though it also turms positive if you got the BCG vaccine. Active disease is diagnosed by the constellation of signs and symptoms like chronic cough, weight loss, fever, palpable lymph nodes. If you experience any of these, the doctor might request for AFB stain. You submit your sputum to the lab first thing in the morning and they stain it for the tubercle bacilli, for 3 days straight. Chest radiographs also show lesions from PTB.

Answer 2

The short answer to your question is probably not, but you need to go to your doctor or public health unit to find out for sure.

If you have been exposed to TB, you should be tested to see if you have actually caught the TB bacillus (bacteria). The test involves a small amount of fluid being injected just under the skin on your forearm. You then return two days later to have the test 'read'-they will check to see if there is any redness or swelling at the injection site. If there is no redness or swelling on your arm, you are "TB Negative/Non-Reactive" and will either be told to come back in 6 months-1 year to be retested or will be told not to return, that you're fine.

If there is a red swelling or lump on your arm where the serum was injected, you are 'TB Positive/Reactive' and they will then probably do a chest X-ray and sputum (lung spit) test to check for changes to your lungs or TB bacteria in your sputum.

A positive arm test does not necessarily mean that you are actually sick with TB. What it does mean is that some of the TB bacillus has gotten into your body and your immune system has found it. The chest X-ray is used to determine if you have developed active TB disease and are contagious or if your immune system has the TB bacteria encapsulated (see below).

Often, the immune system will encapsulate the TB bacteria (picture taking a small rubber ball {the bacteria} and holding it tightly in the palm of your hand {your immune system}, rendering the bacteria unable to become active and cause illness, but not killing off the bacteria. You cannot spread TB in this case.

However, over time, age and/or serious illness or stress can cause the immune system to weaken, allowing the TB bacteria to break free of the immune system's capsule and infect the body-this is active TB infection.

For that reason, some people who have come in contact with TB and are TB positive are given a year's worth of antibiotics to either (a) give an extra layer of support to the immune system {using the idea of the rubber ball in your hands above, think of someone taking your clenched hand holding the rubber ball in theirs-if your hand lets go of the ball, their hands will make sure the ball doesn't fall to the floor-or the drugs help make sure that even if your immune system fails, that the TB doesn't become active and cause illness}
or
(b) kill of the bacteria altogether.

The medications can have very serious side effects (nerve damage to your fingers and toes, liver disease), though, so the doctors will talk to you first and discuss the risks and benefits of using the drugs at this time. You must stay on the drugs for the full year for them to be effective and will have to submit to many blood tests to be sure your liver is all right with the medications.

I came up TB positive when I was 16; we have no idea where I came in contact with the bacteria. The rest of my family was TB negative. My chest X-rays are normal, so my immune system has the bacteria in check.

Because I have other lung diseases that can make it necessary to spend time on drugs that slow down my immune system, my doctors and I made the decision to put me through the year of antibiotic therapy in 1992. I still have chest X-rays every 5 years or so, to ensure the antibiotics and my immune system still have the TB well encapsulated.

While I am TB positive, I do not have active TB infection, so I cannot make anyone sick. My chest X-ray looks no different than a person who had never been exposed to TB. I live life normally and only think about the TB when a question like this comes up or when it's time for my chest X-ray.

The attached link gives more information about what I've already described, plus a few extra things you'd also need to know.

Answer 3

Hi there...

I could not tell you for sure but I have taken some EMT classes and here is what I know. Just because you are exposed does not mean that you necessarily have TB but there is a really good chance that you probably would. My best advice to give ya is go to a free health clinic and get tested. I really hope that everything turns out okay!!!

Thanks and hope this helps ya!

Answer 4

You should go get tested and yes it is possible you can have it because TB is highly contagious spread from someone else spit, cough, sneeze, or which ever comes out of their mouth that is from their lungs. You can effect others, put a mask on over your mouth until the doctor confirms you are infected first. If you are, you will get medicine and what ever the doctor tell you to do, do what he recommends you to do. If you have been around others after the incident, you should contact those you have been around to let them know they could be infected too which they should do the same as you.

Answer 5

Not necessarily, but if I were you, I'd get a 'tine' test, just to ease my mind. I don't think you have any thing to worry about, but, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Wishing you the best of health.

Answer 6

get tested!!! the sooner the better