Skin test for TB positive?

Question

My boyfriend works in the medical field and has just had a positive skin test. Tomorrow he goes to the clinic and at that appointment they are going to ask him if he would like the medication to treat it. He isn't sure what he wants to do because the medication messes with the human liver but if he doesn't take it his TB could become active. He wants me to help him with this decision but I don't know what to tell him, I'm really not sure what to do. I'm really scared though, I don't want anything to happen to him...Anyway, should he take the medication and possibly hurt his liver or leave it alone, not take the medication and chance his TB becoming active?

Your right, his age does matter so he is going to be 23 in June.

Answer 1

This is a decision that I had to make for myself, I chose to not take the medication.

The chances of developing TB are 10% the chances of developing TB after being treated is 1%

The treatment to try to prevent it is 6 months of antibiotics.

The cure for TB when you develope it is 6 weeks of antibiotics.

To me that was a huge difference and wot worth damaging my liver for 9% chance.

Answer 2

I just had a co worker test positive for TB this is not something to mess around with. Though the medication is hard on the liver it is a must in my eyes. Age plays a factor to the younger he his the less likely he will experience any side effects. He should also let the doctor know of any family history of liver problems. Tell him if he does decide to take the medication that he should not drink any alcohol not even one beer over the course of medication which is nine months if I remember right. Most medical professions will require him to take the medication to stay employed with there service. His work will probable pay for the medication and liver enzyme testing since he was more then likely exposed at work. Good Luck I personally would recommend that he take the medication but schedule liver enzyme testing monthly.

Answer 3

Another thing to think about is when the TB becomes active, and it will at some point, he will then beable to spread it from person to person, most likly the closest people to him, like you

Take the medication- Longer life for him and protection for loved ones kids maybe?

Not take- Shorter life span and most of the time that is a for sure thing. AND when the TB is active every one around him at congaious times is at risk

However there are ways to protect his body while on the drugs, vitiams, supplements, diets. Alot more than there was 20 years ago. Check out what he CAN do to help while on the drugs before you two make the decision.

We had a family friend that found out about the TB but it was actually to late for the medication, the doctors put him on the TB meds anyway while this friend was put on the list for a lung transfuion. He got the lung but it was a very hard fight, he was sick for a long time, it was a long fight to become whole again, he said. He is not at 100% but he is alive.

I have worked in health care for a long time and from my point of view is if thereis a way to prevent one from getting sick or sicker it is worth it. But that is just me. It is a hard choise to make. Do research, read on everything you can get your hands one, get all the information you can before you deside. Always go into to a life desision armed with knowledge, then you will always know you made the right one.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

I would say take the medicine.

10% of the people that have TB inactive (latency) form will get the active form.

50%++ of these people will die from the active TB disease.

Example: 100 people have the inactive (latency) form, out of those 100, 10 people will develop the active TB disease. Out of these 10 people, 5 or more of them will die.

Unless he has liver problems I would highly recommend it. Why take a change of being the 10% that develops the active TB disease? By the way, he will have to take MORE medicine if he develops the active form and he has a 50%++ of dying.

Answer 5

positive tb skin test

Answer 6

A positive TB skin test does not mean your bf has Tuberculosis. Looks like he's been exposed to the airborne virus, but it does not mean that he is infected. If he is in the medical field, don't worry. They'll take steps to determine if he has been infected or not, and in the unlikely event that he is infected, there is treatment.

Answer 7

I would rather have a possibility of liver problems than definately having TB.

Answer 8

a positive TB test only means he was exposed to it and has developed antibodies in his blood.My sis took the medication for a year and did fine