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Originally Posted by DPline
Also, to comment on something posted above, I can't remember which member it was, but someone explained to me a while back that the BCG does not prevent TB but will only make it less severe (and possibly deadly) if the child does contract it. So even with the BCG vaccine they can be carrying it or contract it here.
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Yes, Debbie, that's correct. I was going to post that info last night, but I was so tired I turned off my computer and came back to this thread today. I went to our ped, the infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt Hospital, the CDC, and an IA clinic when Carolina's test was positive (a little overkill, I guess). But the consensus was that the BCG
may prevent the disease from becoming deadly, but it does not protect against coming down with TB if you were exposed. Also, the quantiferon gold TB test (new test) is NOT reliable in children, and so it should not be used as a second test to avoid giving the meds.
At first I was very leary about giving Carolina 9 months of meds. But after doing my research, the benefits far outweighed any risk, IMO.