TB

I am seeing a girl for quite sometime. My problem is that this girl got infected with TB disease

nine months back  and she had been undergoing the treatment for the same since then. Recently,

she informed me that her treatment has been completed and Her X-rays and blood tests show no

signs of TB now. SHe also told me that earlier, she had kind of a lump in her lungs as shown in

the X_Ray which has been cured now. During the past two month, I have not seen her coughing or

showing any related symptoms. Lately, i have been thinking about the contagiousness of this

disease. More specifically, Can it affect me through kissing or smooching given that i have no

surity about the status of TB bacteria in the girl's body. Should i preasssume that she must

have become totally fine by now after the treatment and feel free while having any intimacy?

[National Jewish]

It is difficult to give a simple answer about the communicability of tuberculosis (TB).  In most situations you would need to be exposed for many days or several weeks in an indoor setting to catch TB.  It is spread when you inhale bacteria that are coughed into the air by people who are infected.  Kissing does not spread TB.  Anyone who thinks they have been exposed should have a skin test for tuberculosis called a purified protein derivative (PPD).  Note, however, that it takes 6 to 10 weeks following infection for the test to become positive.  If positive they should see their doctor about taking treatment to keep the infection from progressing to active disease.

For a PPD test a liquid is injected just under the skin.  Dead tuberculosis germs are mixed in this liquid.  If you have been infected with TB, a lump will usually form at the site of the injection.  This is a positive PPD test.  Generally this means that TB germs have infected your body.

If a person has been infected with TB, but they do not have active disease, usually their chest x-ray shows no signs of prior infection and they have no symptoms of TB.  The symptoms of TB are a cough that may or may not include coughing up blood, decreased appetite, weight loss, fever, and night sweats.  Most people with a positive PPD have a negative chest x-ray.  These people continue to be healthy.  They are not contagious, so they cannot give the TB to anyone else.  This is known as a latent TB infection.

People with a positive PPD and a negative chest x-ray may or may not be given preventive treatment.  This depends on their exposure to TB, when their PPD changed from negative to positive, and other factors in their health history.  With a positive PPD and negative chest x-ray there is a 10% chance of developing active disease in your lifetime.  The percentage is higher during the first few years after your PPD becomes positive.  If your PPD has become positive after you have recently been in close contact with a person who has active disease, you would be given preventive treatment to lower your risk of developing active disease.  Usually preventive treatment is isoniazid (INH) given for 6 to 9 months.

If this girl were being treated for active disease and the health department has "cleared" her, then she should not be contagious to you at the current time.