What You Need To Know About the TB Test

If you think you could have tuberculosis (TB) it is important to call our office and schedule an appointment for a TB test immediately. TB is a health condition that requires medical treatment. It will not go away on its own and it is contagious, so it is critical to schedule a test quickly.

In fact, since this is an airborne disease, it is possible to share the bacteria with those living or working in close proximity to an infected patient. This is one reason it spreads so quickly on college campuses where students are sharing classroom spaces, eating in cafeterias, and living in dormitories. Fortunately, TB is treatable.

What is a TB test?

Tuberculosis is a dangerous bacterial infection that generally affects the lungs. However, the disease can also spread to almost every organ in the body, including the brain, spine, and kidneys. TB typically spreads through coughing and sneezing. A donor organ transplant may also potentially transmit the disease.

TB does not always show symptoms in every infected patient. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of the world's population is infected with latent tuberculosis (LTBI). A person who has latent tuberculosis (TB) does not show symptoms of the disease and cannot transmit it to others. While most people with latent TB do not show any signs of the disease, active TB may occur in patients with compromised immune systems. Therefore, LTBI screening is an important and common aspect of public health.

Signs of tuberculosis

Anyone who has one or all of the symptoms should schedule a TB test. Some of these symptoms can include:

• Coughing that persists for three weeks or longer
• Coughing accompanied by chest pain
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

What happens during the TB test?

The skin test takes two appointments and typically takes place on the skin. On the first appointment, a fluid is injected into the skin. Then, around 48 hours later, the patient will return to the office so that area of the skin can be examined. If there is a hard lump at the place of injection, it may be tuberculosis.

To know for sure, the size of that lump will need to be measured. It is also possible to test for tuberculosis using a blood test.

Interpreting the TB test results

The presence or absence and the degree of induration (localized swelling) serve as the foundation for the skin test reading. This induration measurement is transverse (for example, perpendicular) to the long axis of the forearm and noted in millimeters. The induration area (a raised, hardened region) surrounding the injection site is the result of the tuberculin response. The physician will not measure the degree of redness.

The width of the induration and some patient-specific risk variables combine to determine whether a tuberculin response is positive or negative. A skin test is deemed positive if induration is more than or equal to 15 mm in a healthy individual with a normal immune system. The test is also considered as positive if blisters (vesiculation) are detected.

Additional testing

A positive result does not necessarily indicate the presence of TB disease. The results of these tests are not always accurate. The test will sometimes give a false positive so if the results come back positive, do not panic. In many cases, patients may undergo an x-ray or CT scan in addition to the skin or blood test.

Also, a patient can have positive results without having TB disease. In this case, it is possible to have latent TB. We will only know through further testing and can then recommend what type of treatment is necessary. For example, if someone has latent TB, our goal is to prevent it from becoming TB disease. This treatment course is different from what we would recommend if someone has full TB.

Treatment options

Antibiotics are necessary for treating tuberculosis. However, instead of giving a patient a small 10-day course, antibiotics are typically necessary for four to nine months. This intensive treatment is required to read the body of tuberculosis. If someone has latent tuberculosis, a four-month antibiotic course may be required just to prevent it from becoming a full-blown TB disease.

Get diagnosed right away

If you believe you have tuberculosis, it is important to call our office and schedule a TB test immediately. Do not delay in being tested so that you can receive the treatment that is required to recover.

Get more information here: https://Southfloridadoctorsgroup.com or call South Florida Doctors Group at (954) 905-2432

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