I had a positive TB test read today. I had an x-ray done with another doctor who!


Question: I had a positive TB test read today. I had an x-ray done with another doctor who said there was nothing there.?
He said it was clear and there should be no follow-up.

I was under the impression from the first doctor that I had latent TB. I also have a history of pleurisy and TB symptoms like night sweats. When I was hospitalized for the pleurisy I was initially told I had TB. (The diagnosis was later changed to pneumonia.) I also lived in South Korea, which has really high rates of TB, during this time.

Another thing that concerns me is that I have scarring on my lung from the pluerisy and hope it wasn't confused with what could have been an actual TB infection.

Did I already have TB and it just went away?
Do I have latent TB now?
Or was it simply a false positive?

Is there really even any way to know.

(I tried to ask the doctor these things at the time, but didn't get a real answer.)

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

A positive TB skin test means you have been exposed and reacted to TB. Lungs are the main entry point. But also you can get intestinal TB from foods, esp. unpasteurized milk from a cow with TB. The infection can go into the liver and other areas of the body. If you have lung Xrays of scarring, and/or symptoms of TB such as night sweats, wt loss, cough (or not), you would be presumed to have the infection. Many doctors will treat you with antibiotics for 6 months to a year. Hopefully if you do have it it is not resistant to the current meds.
A thorough attempt to culture for it is often made. The resistance to a drug can be found more quickly with that info. Are their any other family or friends with similar symptoms?




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