Could He Have Transmitted Tuberculosis To Me?

Question

I slept with a guy and yes obviously kissed him last night. I later found out after everything happened that he has tuberculosis. What are the chances of me getting it? If I did catch it how long would it take for my Dr.'s to be able to see it, diagnose it, treat it, or help me get rid of it?

Answer 1

Tuberculosis has an incubation period of 6 to 8 weeks, that's how long it takes for symptoms to develop.

Symptoms would be fever (especially in the evenings) and malaise.

This is also the time that it takes for the TB test to become positive.

If the TB skin test is positive but you have no other symptoms of TB, then a course of preventive medication needs to be taken once daily for 3 to 6 months, and this will prevent you getting the disease.

However, take heart, if the chap you kissed has been on treatment for over 2 months, he is unlikely to have transmitted the infection to you as treatment makes a patient non-infective after 2 months of treatment.

It's still good to let your MD know so that you can get the tests done if needed at a later date, and he doesn't say at that time "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Answer 2

OMG!  He should be turned in to the CDC!.  And if he knew he had TB he was obligated to tell you before risking infecting you.  You could sue him.

Here's a link to the Center for Disease Control (USA).  It has everthing you need to know about TB.

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/

Answer 3

if his TB is inactive or he is taking medication it is not likely that it will be passed on, I doubt that someone is running around with untreated active TB as he would more than likely be somewhat ill, if he knows he has it, he must be getting treatment

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/faqs/qa_introducti...