[amberfarman]

Hi,

My daughter has just been tested positive for TB, her x-rays however look good thank goodness. She will however have to be put on a antibiotic for nine months... any advice? Love to chat with someone else on the antibiotic

Thanks,

Amber

[Niclayson]

A positive skin test and negative xray mean your daughter may have inactive TB. Because of her unknown exposure, your provider has chosen to be cautious and treat her to prevent disease.

The antibiotics do come with risk. Your daughter will need to have blood draws to make sure her liver is tolerating the drugs. My adult brother had the same treatment for the same reasons...and did fine. He did have a lot of negative side effects to his drugs though.

Good luck!

[saranbr]

We had the same thing. DD was on INH x 9mos-- no problems. It's the CDC recommendation for all children with a positive TB screen under the age of four years.

[my2guatgirls]

Is TB the test that could show a false positive due to our little one's vaccine that they receive in Guatemala? I always get the initials wrongs. Something like BGC or BCG? It's a vaccine they receive in their upper arm and it leaves a little scar. Just a thought.

Prayers to you and your little one.

[Niclayson]

Originally Posted by saranbr

It's the CDC recommendation for all children with a positive TB screen under the age of four years.

The treatments are getting much more aggressive for inactive TB because the disease is making quite a comeback worldwide...and the new strains are very resistant to antibiotics!

So be DILIGENT about giving your antibiotics. This is sooo hard to do for 9 months! Most of us have trouble remembering every dose if our kids are only on them for 10 days!

[my2guatgirls]

OK... I just googled BGC and found a ton of info regarding the vaccine and positive TB tests. Is your doctor aware that your child may have rec'd this vaccine? Perhaps your child won't need treatment afterall.

It's certainly worth a shot.

[kerriv]

BCG doesn't always cause a positive skin test so it's recommended that a person with a positive test be treated regardless of whether they've received BCG or not.

[tinaedmond]

Our child was on isoniazid for 9 months. Positive TB test, clear lung x-ray. Was given to her as a preventative just in case. She did have the vaccine in Guat that can make you test positive. Not easy to give a daily yucky medicine to a 18 month old! We opted for the pill form and crushed it up into applesauce, pudding, etc. The liquid form is easier to administer but has bad side effects (diahhrea, etc.). But, we struggled through it. I don't remember her getting blood draws to check her liver.

The International adoption center at our local Children's hospital put her on the medication, and were aware she had the vaccine in Guat. So, even if they know the child had the vaccine, it doesn't mean they won't want to treat.

Tina

[neenasee]

The same thing happened to my DH. He tested positive believe it or not when he was getting his check-up for our adoption paperwork. We were so afraid it would affect the adoption. He did the antibiotics for 9 months and like others have said he was carefully monitored by the Dr. with frequent blood tests.

[amylynn3]

DH tested positive for TB at his physical for adoption as well, but had a clear chest x-ray. He was on the medicine for 9 months and did fine. If I remember correctly, he lost quite a bit of weight on the medicine.

[Mindybeth6]

It is true that a child CAN have a + test result because of the BCG shot. That is the truth. However, it should not be over a certain measurement. Mikayla had a VERY + test result that meant most likey she WAS exposed to TB and I know of one other baby in her baby home that had a + result as well. We went to an adoption and infectious disease specialist at Akron Children's Horpital and it was concluded that due to the SEVERITY of the + that she needed to be on INH. After getting the prescription I sat on it for over a month doing research and talking to numerous DR's and specialists about the drug as well as doing a lot of online research. I came to the conclusion that since she was exposed, and it was not from the BCG, that she needed the INH, which we are now in month two of with no issues. She has her blood drawn every 4-6 weeks to check her liver levels to ensure she is not having a negative reaction. THe only side effect I have seen is that it upset her belly and gives her a lot of gas. BAD gas...LOL. It took a week or so finding a way and time to give it to her that worked best for HER and we do it every morning.

When the result first came back + I just assumed it was the BCG and that was NOT the case. You need to weigh out all the options and make a decision that YOU think is best...not what other's SAY is best. I personally decided that I would not take the risk NOT giving her the meds only to have her get TB. Not likely, but still possible. Here is an article you can check out that you might find interesting. This article specifically discusses the correlation between TB and the BCG: FCC: Tuberculosis testing and BCG

[jjcallens]

My Daughter had a B.C.G. vaccination for TB. I went to her first Dr. appt and her Doctor who is from Puerto Rico said that Latin American coutries give these vaccinations to stop a TB outbreak. He said that she will test positive for TB due to the very low live virus in the BCG shot. You can look up BCG on the internet for more information.

He didn't recommend any antibiotics for her and didn't test her.

[DeeVee]

Our daughter had a positive skin test, and negative chest x-ray. As Mindybeth6 said, it's the size of the positive result (over 10 mm) that meant she was probably exposed to TB, and the result is not just because of the BCG vaccine.

Carolina has been taking INH since May, and is doing fine. No side effects at all. I give her a pill, crushed and put in applesauce or pudding, twice a week.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. I posted back when I first found out about her pos. PPD. I had quite a fight with our county health department over them letting me give her the meds myself. Happy to say I won, and she's doing fine.

[Mindybeth6]

Yes, I should have posted that it needs to be over 10mm. I forgot to say that and meant to so I am glad you said that Dee.
Hugs

[amberfarman]

Thank you all for your suggestions, stories. I was on this site all the time during our adoption. Now with the adoption over and time just flying I rarley get on here. But with the TB test results I thought I would ask for some advice here. I appreciate it all so much. She started her medicine today, however I am doing research on this still. I am checking to see if she did have that vaccine or not. I will keep you posted.

Thanks again,

Amber and Gabi