tuberculosis

[lilcountriegal]

here is the scenario:

my husband is an EMT.  while working last evening, he was possibly exposed to a patient with TB.  they are currently testing the patient, however, results will take a week.  my husband had limited contact with the patient, he was working with a medic who had more extensive exposure, but my husband WAS exposed (IF the patient even has TB...)

I know next to nothing about TB.  is it easily passed from person to person?  

We have three kids, age 6 years, 1 year, and 9 days old.  I'm very concerned about teh possible risks for my children?

[amy_love]

TB is passed through the air: usually through coughing/sneezing (droplets)..  if you husband may be exposed to it, he could get tested for it through a skin test (PPD).. you can get the result of that w/in 48-72 hours.. they might do a 2nd test after that just to make sure... signs and symptoms of TB are extreme fatigue, intermittent fever, night sweats, and cough for 2 months, an episode of

[starion]

We're all so different--our bodies, our condition, even our health from day to day as well as the medications we're all taking.  Prednisone is a powerful oral steroid which affects different people very differently.  I've taken several "bursts" of 10-80 mg/day for my asthma and emphysema flare-ups over the past 18 months.  Since I've only taken it when my lung function is already very poor, I haven't noticed it having a very dramatic improvement in my lung function.  Still, I have stayed out of emergency rooms & hospitals, & I suspect it kept my flare-ups from getting out of control.  Many others have written about much more dramatic results from taking much smaller doses.  Some folks take if for a lot longer (all of my bursts were for a few days or weeks).
In any case, talk to your doctor about whether you believe your medication plan is working or not, so you can work together to make appropriate adjustments (increase, decrease, change meds).
Aloha,
Starion--thriving in HI