| In the civilized worlds of today, TB was supposed to | | | | test came back positive. Now, my wife, who is |
| be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, because of lax | | | | normally a very rational person, became quite |
| immigration laws, TB is becoming a major epidemic in | | | | hysterical, as she understood exactly what that |
| the modern world. However, there are some | | | | meant. At least she thought she did. The doctor |
| misconceptions about TB test results that I am going | | | | assured her that the test result simply showed that |
| to try to put to rest in this article. Hopefully, this will | | | | the disease was lying dormant in her system and by |
| help remove the hysteria from the facts. | | | | simply taking some pills for a number of months, she |
| First off, for those of you who don't know what TB | | | | would be okay. She did NOT have active TB. |
| is, since this is supposed to be a disease that has | | | | If your doctor suspects that you have TB from |
| long been wiped out, it is caused by a bacteria | | | | other tests, usually a build up of calcium somewhere, |
| known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This particular | | | | and gives you a TB test that you test positive for, it |
| bacteria usually attacks the lungs as its primary | | | | is most likely as latent TB infection if you have no |
| target, but TB can actually effect many organs in | | | | symptoms and don't feel sick. If this is the case, you |
| your body such as your kidneys, liver and even your | | | | cannot spread TB to others. However, if you do not |
| brain. TB can be fatal if not treated immediately. | | | | get treatment for the latent disease, it can turn into |
| TB is a disease that is transmitted through the air | | | | active TB and become very serious. |
| from person to person. It is highly contagious and | | | | How long the latent infection will take to become |
| those that have active TB are put into immediate | | | | active depends on the individual. Some people have |
| quarantine. And therein lies the misconceptions about | | | | latent TB their whole lives and never become ill from |
| TB test results. | | | | it. Others become ill quite soon. It all depends on how |
| My wife, who is a school teacher in an urban district, | | | | good your immune system is. That is why, during the |
| where there are a lot of illegal immigrants, just | | | | course of treatment for latent TB, the patient is |
| recently went for a routine physical. After getting | | | | given a strong dose of vitamins, especially vitamin B |
| some tests back that didn't look quite right, the | | | | 6. |
| doctor decided to test her for TB. Sure enough the | | | | |