i took a tb skin test on monday and now i have a reddish area with small bumps, am i positive for tb?

Question

I need to know what my chances are of having tb! Am I positive or what? Does the size matter with the testing?

Answer 1

nope, this just means that at one point in your life you've been exposed to it, but not neccessarily have TB, if you have to get a sputum culture, but the results take a long time to come back like 8 wks or so, the culture is to see if you have the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.If the PPD test site becomes itchy or has a blister, please don’t scratch it. You can apply mild cortisone cream (available over the counter). Let us know if the area becomes red, painful or has white fluid.

If you have a positive PPD skin test, you should get a chest X-ray to look for active tuberculosis, since this germ most commonly affects the lungs. You also should report any symptoms that suggesting active tuberculosis. These symptoms include long - standing cough, sweating at night or unexplained weight loss. If there is no cough and the chest xray is normal, then the condition is not likely to be contagious and won’t be spread to others. Don't worry so much about it, and talk to your doctor about the sputum culture. goodluck and hope this helped.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
i took a tb skin test on monday and now i have a reddish area with small bumps, am i positive for tb?
I need to know what my chances are of having tb! Am I positive or what? Does the size matter with the testing?

Answer 3

Should you not have had the test read by a health nurse today? They 'read' the rash on your arm between 48-72 hours for a reason...
This spring when I had my Mantoux test at work the health nurse showed me a chart of different reaction associated with the test, as I expressed the fear that I would react to the medium in the injection. There are unassociated rashes that could occur on the same site, like allergies.
The mantoux test depends on your reaction to the TB introduced to your system, so the strength of reaction dictates the diameter of the rash. The small bump sounds like a pustule, which is a sign they look for as a positivereaction. This does not mean that you are necessarily infected with TB though, only that you have been exposed to it. This is why the nurse would then book you for a chest x-ray to see the condition of your lungs to rule out infection. Only 5% of people exposed to the TB bacteria develop an active case.

Answer 4

The size matters and other things. You should have had this read today though so I am not sure why you didn't go get it read. Also a positive TB test does not mean you HAVE TB as some people have reactions to the solution etc.

Answer 5

a tb test is ordinarily read positive if the redness is more that 10 millimeters across and swollen.(inside a 48 to 72 hour window) But a positive test doesn't mean you have active tb, you have to have a chest xray to know that. What a positive test shows is that you have been exposed and could develop the disease. Without seeing it, I cannot say if it is positive or not, but I wouldn't risk a "maybe", show it to a healthcare professional.

Answer 6

Without seeing your arm, its hard to tell. You may just be having a localized reaction to the serum. If you have reacted, it just means that you have been exposed to TB, it does not mean you have it. If you react positive, they will do a follow up xray to further insure you do not have TB. Chances are if you react once, you will continue to react. Try not to freak.

Answer 7

Stop panicking. Redness is NOT a factor in reading TB test results. Click on this link below and read more about what is factored in when determining the results of a TB test.

I am sure you don't have the disease. Please don't worry.

Answer 8

You are supposed to be seen by your doctor or nurse 48 hours after having test. No one here can tell you if it is positive without seeing it. It depends on the size and appearance and whether or not you irritated it.