what exactly is tuberculosis...??? my husband works for the methodist hospital n before they get a raise n contunie working there they have to be tested for Tuberculosis... he got tested today n he says that he has a fever n the area where he got his shot is gettin red n big .... what can that mean???? n what are some of the symptoms???
2007-08-06 12:35:16 · 4 answers · asked by LA 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Tuberculosis (TB for short) is a common and very infectious disease that can lead to death. It's caused by bacteria.
It's common to have fever and swelling around the site of a TB shot. Just like how sometimes when you get a flu shot you might get some flu symptoms.
2007-08-06 12:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was given a TB test a few years ago and the redness a swelling should go down if he is negative. I had to go back for a reading at which time they measured the site where I'd been tested. The redness was considered borderline and I was retested and that time had no swelling or redness after 2 days and was clean.
I've a cousin who tested positive, when more tests were done she was told that she is a carrier but is not contagious. At some point in her life she had been exposed but her own immunity (and no doubt innoculation as a child) had fought of the disease. She carries the virus but does not have the potential of infecting others.
Very treatable now, not to worry.
2007-08-06 19:48:25 · answer #2 · answered by Choqs 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the time there are TB symptoms, it is too late. Symptoms would include heavy coughing, spitting up blood, difficulty breathing, rapid weight loss. TB affects the lungs.
You said "tested" and you said "shot". Which do you mean? In Germany, Mexico and the Philippines (and other countries) they do give shots to prevent TB, just like all those silly shots they give kids before being allowed to go to school.
The most common test is the tine test, a slight scratching of the arm. If it is red and swollen, he has had a reaction, which could mean TB or a TB test (as above) or????
If he has not had a TB shot, he needs to see the doctor ASAP.
(I was treated for TB for 6 months; the doctors never could decide what I had...)
2007-08-06 19:47:18 · answer #3 · answered by Nothingusefullearnedinschool 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 10% of all people who get tested end up with a false postive result. I only know this because it happened to my husband recently. After blood tests and a chest x-ray, it turned out that everything was fine.
Do not panic. If he does have it, it is 100% treatable with antibiotics. Some of the symptoms are coughing, phlem, blood in the phlem, tiredness, high fever. But, all of these should have been evident in the past.
It is most likely that everything is fine, but I will say a prayer for you both.
2007-08-06 23:07:50 · answer #4 · answered by nichole2583 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋