
Ask A Question - Help - Register - Login

Possible Exposure to Tuberculosis

Sent to Health Experts July 23, 2006 2:48 p.m.

Hello,

My son who is 10 year old had the PPD test and we were told that itâ€™s positive measuring 15-16mm. The doctor requested the chest X-Ray which came back negative. My son had 2 PPD tests in the past that were negative. The doctor said to repeat the PPD in 3 months and if itâ€™s still positive my son will be prescribed antibiotics. I canâ€™t even imagine where heâ€™s gotten it from as we live a very healthy life in Los Angeles. I took my son for the second opinion and that doctor said that he doesnâ€™t even need to repeat the skin test in 3 months and should start taking Isoniazid right away for 9 months. Now Iâ€™m stuck with two different opinions. Iâ€™d really appreciate if you could answer a few questions for me. 1) Should I follow the first doctorâ€™s advice and repeat the PPD? This is what Iâ€™d feel more comfortable with because I really want to get the confirmation that the first PPD was accurate (what if it was false positive ???). My son feels just fine, Thank God! Is there a RISK in repeating the PPD when there was a reaction to it before? I keep thinking what if the test wasnâ€™t accurate and I put my 10-year-old on the medicine for 9 months just for nothing! This medicine has its own side effects as far as I know. 2) Have you heard of the QuantiFeron-TB test? 3) If he will take antibiotics how will we know that the treatment was successful at the end? I havenâ€™t heard of any tests that confirm it. If so, how can we tell that the bacteria is gone?

Thank you in advance,
IK

Optional Information:
Female

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

Answer
July 23, 2006 3:16 p.m. (27 minutes and 57 seconds later)

REPLIED

Hi,
I am a pediatrician, and practising in India.. with a lot of exposure to TB.
A positive PPD (? false) in a healthy 10 year old can be possibly followed up with a revisit if there are no other complications.
A repeat test should be conducted on the OTHER hand so as to reduce the chances of a false positive hypersensitivity reaction after 3 months.
Antibiotics (Anti-tubercular treatment) is very effective if your son has a repeat PPD positive test.
Do let me know if you need more information,

Please ACCEPT the reply (by pressing the GREEN accept button), and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta

1 Other Expert Agrees with this!

Gaurav Gupta -- Doctor (MD) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 4602 Health Accepts
Physician, online medical researcher, & will try to listen and understand you

Reply to Gaurav Gupta
Sent July 23, 2006 3:27 p.m. (11 minutes and 28 seconds later)

Thank you Dr.Gupta. If my son was indeed exposed is there any danger in repeating the PPD? For example, his hand will get even more swelled or he will depelop fever or cough...Thanks!

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
July 24, 2006 4:27 a.m. (13 hours and 0 minutes later)

REPLIED

A PPD is a diagnostic test for TB, it wil definitely not lead to a fever/ cough, however repeated PPD use can sometimes lead to a mild allergic reaction leading to local redness/ mild pain..
Nothing more than that.. that is why giving it in the other arm is a good idea,
Please ACCEPT the reply (by pressing the GREEN accept button), and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta

Gaurav Gupta -- Doctor (MD) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 4602 Health Accepts
Physician, online medical researcher, & will try to listen and understand you

Reply to Gaurav Gupta
Sent July 24, 2006 10:02 p.m. (17 hours and 34 minutes later)

If my son will need to start medication since he doesn't have any symptoms how can we know that the medicine is working? Are there tests that can be done during the treatment or after to confirm that he is cured? Thank you so much! I appreciate your time.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
July 25, 2006 2:11 a.m. (4 hours and 9 minutes later)

ACCEPTED

The idea behind what is called prophylactic treatment is to treat TB 'infection' BEFORE it can lead to TB 'disease'.
If your child remains absolutely asymptomatic throughout the treatment, then there would be no need to do any further tests...The answer to your specific question is that generally there are no easily available tests that can be done to detect after treatment of an asymptomatic child whether he / she is 'normal'.
It is a slightly difficult situation to understand from a non-medical point of view, and I hope that I have helped,
Please ACCEPT the reply (by pressing the GREEN accept button), and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta

Gaurav Gupta -- Doctor (MD) -- 98% Positive Feedback on 4602 Health Accepts
Physician, online medical researcher, & will try to listen and understand you

Think you can answer this question?
Login or Become an Expert

Related Answers:

	DISCLAIMER: You acknowledge that any information you may obtain from individuals you contact through use of the Just Answer service comes from those individuals, not from Just Answer!, and that Just Answer is not in any way responsible for any of the information these third parties may supply. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty and no representations are made regarding the qualification of an Expert. Responses and comments on Just Answer! are for general information and are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (such as medical, legal, investment or accounting) and do not establish a professional-client relationship. Just Answer! is not intended or designed to address EMERGENCY QUESTIONS which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service.

Just Answer! > Online Health Advice > Arm Questions