I Have Questions About Tuberculosis (TB)

The three stages of tuberculosis (TB):

1. primary infection within the lung tissue: this is the usual way how tuberculosis starts.

2. latent or dormant stage of tuberculosis: often tuberculosis goes "underground", on the surface not progressing for up to 1 or 2 years, but the TB bacterium is live wherever it incubates and there are silent tissue reactions.

3. active tuberculosis in various organ systems: As shown in the next table, tuberculosis tends to express itself in 11 different organ systems masquerading as distinct clinical entities despite the same underlying TB pathogen.

http://www.nethealthbook.com/tuberculosis.html

Exposure: This occurs when a person has been in contact, or exposed to, another person who is thought to have or does have TB. The exposed person will have a negative TB skin test, a normal chest x-ray, and no symptoms of the disease.
TB infection: This occurs when a person has the TB bacteria in his/her body, but does not have symptoms of the disease. This person would have a positive skin test, but a normal chest x-ray and no illness.
TB disease: This describes the person who has symptoms of an active infection. The person would have a positive skin test, a positive chest x-ray, and might be ill.

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/peds_infec...

I hope this is what you are looking for. I am so sorry that your family is having to go through this.

J.,
If your brother is healthy otherwise, the TB can remain dormant for quite a long period of time. If he is not having any symptoms, he should be able to hang on for the meds. People walj around for long periods of time with TB and don't even know. Someone who has the normal strain of TB most likely will not develop the drug resistant that is all over the news b/c that is usually picked up as drug resistant or develops from not taking medication regularly. He really needs to find out what type of TB he has and if he needs to quarantine himself and if he can get meds some other way, other than waiting another 6 months. Hope this helps!

Don't wait 2 weeks, contact the media NOW.

My father was hassled around with military hospitals for 25 years, and well, they have TONS of problems. Amputees from this current war going without benefits and treatment and other problems.

J., if you call the TC Health Dept. they have a TB outreach program where anyone can go in or call and get info-That is soooooo absurd that a soldier cannot get meds!!!! I will say a prayer and ask everyone to pray for him-this has to change!

fyi, I read in the paper last weekend that there is an issue where patients do not take their medication on time and a more virulent strain of TB develops. When he gets the meds, maybe you can help him make sure he takes it properly. Among my relatives, it seem like the young men sometimes cut corners with their health. Also, I think you should contact your family doctor for advice. Hope this helps.

I am very sorry to hear about your brother.

With all the news about the passnger who flew with TB - it is a very current topic. Have you considered sharing your story with the local news media? They love to take a worldwide story and give it a local angle. Unfortunately, in this day and age, having the media behind you seems to be a means of getting what you need done.

Good luck! Don't be afraid to contact the network shows either. The ratings period is over, and they are likely seeking stories. Your brother obviously needs the meds - so don't be intimidated about calling the stations. If they run the story it could be a win-win situation for both your brother and the station.

Good luck!
S.
Current speech-language pathologist, who used to work in network news.