[calikismet]

Hi all -- our daughter, now 4 and adopted from Russia at 8 months old, has tested positive for exposure to TB. She did have the BCG vaccine, but the degree of her reaction (11x11mm) indicates to her doctor that this is more than just the BCG - it is exposure to active TB at some time. Our son (now 5.5 years old and adopted at age 8 months from Russia, too) was tested today, and we'll have his test read day after tomorrow. Per county health dept mandates, our clinic did a chest x-ray for our daughter, and she does not have an active case of TB. But she was prescribed the INH, and will begin that this week for 9 long months.

My questions are as follows:

1. Most of our kiddos have gotten the BCG vaccine. But not all will have a strong positive skin test. How many here have had a ++ PPD test?

2. For those of you that have had ++ PPD tests (assuming the chest x-ray was negative), did you choose the INH treatment? I got the impression from our clinic that our county requires INH treatment, as our city has a decently high rate of TB exposure (southwestern city with high migrant movement).

3. For those of you with INH treatment, what were the side effects, if any? We got the liquid, altho I have heard that the pill (crushed) may go down better. Our daughter is very good about taking icky medicine (for example, she had giardia and needed that vile medication), but our son may not take the liquid as easily.

Oh, for the record, this is her 1st skin PPD test. I'm not sure why our doctor did not test her earlier, but they decided to do it as a routine test during her 4-year check up on Monday. I do know that others have their kids tested as a part of their newly-home check-up. We just never had the PPD included in that for whatever reason.

[GCS]

1. Most of our kiddos have gotten the BCG vaccine. But not all will have a strong positive skin test. How many here have had a ++ PPD test?
DD only had the positive skin test. All the rest of us tested negatively. Her vaccine was given between our trips one and two so we did not have anything on file if she tested positive before we accepted the referral (not that this would have made a difference in our adopting her, but we would have a negative test on file.)



2. For those of you that have had ++ PPD tests (assuming the chest x-ray was negative), did you choose the INH treatment? I got the impression from our clinic that our county requires INH treatment, as our city has a decently high rate of TB exposure (southwestern city with high migrant movement).

Her +PPD test sent us to the Health department for family testing (yeah!) and chest x-rays. She did have a negative film. Our doctor suggested the INH treatment. The TB specialist at the County Health Dept suggested we just retest her in 9 months. We decided to retest her this summer and did not do the INH treatment. She would have been 2 and half years after adopting when we got the +PPD test. We will test her again this summer and she will be 3 and half years home so I am hoping this will make a difference. I have heard that some people always test + after the vaccine regardless as to how many years home.

All the best to you! I know I was very freaked out when we got the positive test. I did not expect it at all!

[angelkisses0102]

Both of my kids had the vaccine and neither tested positive...

Good luck.

[hml1976]

My daughter had a 5mm reaction, consistent with just a BCG vaccine, not considered a postive.

I test borderline positive as well and no one has ever said anything to me about INH, I have a negative x-ray.

[Kasey]

Both had vaccine, youngest tested negative, oldest tested positive, measured greater than 12mm, negative chest x-ray, we waited and repeated 9 months later, still strongly positive, met with several docs and specialists and opted for the INH.
Did the crushed pill for 9 months (from age of 15 months to 23 months), no side effects, did extremely well on it.

Generally they consider anything over 10mm positive to consider treatment.

[votemom]

our girls (adopted 7/07) are both on the meds.

both had the vaccine just 2 months before we adopted them so it was no surprise when they tested positive here. one's reaction was w/in normal range, but one's was too large.

two of the pediatricians at our office had two differeing opinions.

we opted to give the meds to both. they are just six days apart and i couldn't see doing 9 months of the Rx with just one.

they are supposed to have it on an empty stomach, so it's just become part of our routine... i crush the pills and squirt some chocolate syrup or squeeze jelly on the spoon. then i take the meds upstairs and give it to them while they are standing in their cribs. then they toddle into my bedroom and snuggle up to watch Curious George on tv. when that's done, it's time to come down for breakfast. we were told 30 minutes was optimum time for them to wait to eat.

it's just become our routine.

i think we've done it for 4 months now. i haven't seen any side effects. they don't seem to notice the bad flavor. i've also used butterscotch syrup. anything that will squeeze/pour out onto the spoon is easiest.

i don't call it medicine. i don't really say anything. they just know to open their mouths and then off they go to my bed.

good luck.

p.s. oh - i was going to mention, part of our reason for doing the meds was for when they go to school. i didn't want it to be an issue every year. this way, we will have a paper from the CDC or public health stating that they have had a full course treatment for TB and are TB free and are not to ever be tested again.

[TweetyMom04]

1. positive test.
2. negative chest x-ray, we choose the liquid med. I had a relative that did not get treatment for TB and lost a lung.
3. no side effects w/the liquid. We were offered the pill form, if the liquid became a problem for DS-L to take.

[doozer22boys]

My girls both had a positive TB test. X-rays were negative. They started meds about 6 months after coming home (the first skin test they did was borderline positive for one of them so they wanted to wait a few months and do it again). They both took a pill with juice every morning. They were 2 and 4 at the time. It was fine. No side effects at all. We now have a card to show that they never need a TB test again.

[mayaprincess]

I am 41 years old and still test positive. Since I am a teacher, I have to get a chest x-ray clearance. I tested positive when I was 3 years old and arrived int he U.S. rom Guatemala. I was given the pills for several years until someobody finally decided taht it was nolonger necessary to take the treatment. I know have a card taht states taht I have an "alelrgic reaction" to the test and will require a chest x-ray.

[amanda_p]

Drew tested postive and we did the 9 month long INH. We did the liquid and most of the time he did pretty well but towards the end our Walgreens started adding flavor. That ended up being wonderful. Before the flavor we would add it to yogurt and stuff that we knew he would eat it all. I know a friend of mine used to give her son the pill and put it in icing. Of course he loved that and he wanted to eat his icing every night....he never forgot

We didnt notice any side effects.

[calikismet]

Thanks for all of the information. As an update, our son tested negative, with nearly no reaction at all... and he was also vaccinated for BCG. So that confirmed in our minds that our daughter was definately exposed in Russia, and that treating with the INH is the right thing.

I picked up the very LARGE bottle of liquid this AM, and they added orange flavor to it.. I may try to change up the flavors each month, too.

Thanks again!

[russia06]

DS tested positive on the skin test. Had a negative chest X-ray. We opted for the 9 months of INH which has not been to difficult. He protests occassionally. Our last day of this is this coming Friday (9 months moves quickly). We did the liquid as he takes this medication easier then chewing vitamins and medication. We will just be thrilled to be done with it.

[ddahl]

I think its always stressful when our kids have anything going on medically because we want their health to be wonderful. I have nothing to offer except hugs to you Mommy! Sound slike you are doing everything right!
HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS!