Airborne diseases spread easily and are difficult to prevent. Learn more about the types of airborne diseases and how to protect yourself. Some parents have adopted alternative vaccination schedules, but experts say this can pose serious consequences for their children's health. There are many types of tuberculosis, categorized by the areas of the body that are affected. Learn about some of the most common types as well as….
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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. What happens during a TB skin test? Identifying infection. Images of indurations. Understanding your test results. Symptoms of TB. Next steps after a positive test. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Medically reviewed by Adithya Cattamanchi, M. Meningeal Tuberculosis. Note: to remove the watermark on the document, click on the document's footer then click on the watermark text.
The skin test reaction should be read between 48 and 72 hours after administration. The reaction should be measured in millimeters of induration palpable, raised, hardened area or swelling.
Do not measure erythema redness. The indurated area should be measured across the forearm perpendicular to the long axis. People who have been vaccinated with BCG should not be exempted from TB skin testing unless they have a documented positive result from a prior test.
Two-step TSTs are not recommended for patients in other settings. The test cannot tell whether you have active or inactive latent TB. More tests—such as a chest X-ray, a sputum culture , or both—are usually done to see if you have active TB. Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:.
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Top of the page. Test Overview A tuberculin skin test also called a Mantoux tuberculin test is done to see if you have ever been exposed to tuberculosis TB. Health care workers who are likely to be exposed to TB. People with TB symptoms, such as an ongoing cough, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss. People who have had an abnormal chest X-ray. People who have had a recent organ transplant or have an impaired immune system , such as those with human immunodeficiency virus HIV.
A tuberculin skin test should not be done for people: With a known TB infection. Who have had a previous severe reaction to the TB antigens. Who have a skin rash that would make it hard to read the skin test. How To Prepare Before having a tuberculin skin test, tell your doctor if you: Have symptoms of tuberculosis TB , such as an ongoing cough, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss.
Have had a severe reaction to a tuberculin skin test in the past. Have had TB in the past. Have risk factors for TB, which are things that increase your risk. A job as a health care worker that may cause you to be exposed to people with TB.
Having lived or travelled in a country where TB is common. Have been given a TB vaccination. Have been treated with medicines, such as corticosteroids, that can affect your immune system. Are infected with HIV. Have a skin rash that may make it hard to read the skin test. How It Is Done For a tuberculin skin test, you sit down and turn the inner side of your forearm up.
How It Feels You may feel a quick sting or pinch from the needle. Risks There is a very slight risk of having a severe reaction to the tuberculin skin test, especially if you have had tuberculosis TB. After the test Some redness at the skin test site is expected. Talk to your doctor if you have: A fever. Swelling in your arm. Swollen lymph nodes in your armpit. Results A tuberculin skin test is done to see if you have ever had tuberculosis TB infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Three levels of risk have been defined: High-risk group includes people who have HIV, those who have had close recent contact with a person who has active TB, and those who have symptoms or a chest X-ray that shows TB.
Other people at high risk for tuberculosis include those who take medicines that contain corticosteroids for a long time or people taking biologics used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Moderate-risk group includes people who have recently moved from or travelled in a country with a high rate of TB; those who use illegal drugs by injection intravenous drug users ; people who live in nursing homes; workers in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and prisons; children younger than 4 years old; children ages 4 to 18 who are exposed to high-risk adults; and homeless people.
Low-risk group includes people who do not have any possible exposure to TB listed in the other risk groups. Mantoux tuberculin skin test Normal negative results : No firm bump forms at the test site, or a bump forms that is smaller than 5 mm 0.
Abnormal positive results : A firm bump that is 5 mm 0. Taking medicines that suppress the immune system , such as corticosteroids.
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