Tb test does he have it?

Question

my 11 year old had a tb test today at 11am for school, its now 9 pm and it is red, raised circle about the size of a quarter. Ive read online it takes 48-72 hours to show possitive and its only been 10 hours. Should i freak out yet? Im worried, can it just be a reaction to the shot itself? help please.

Answer 1

It could be a reaction to the injection.  It is possible that it will go down it is also possible that if he has had this shot before that he is reacting to the prior shot(s).  The TB test is to see if your body mounts a response to the TB antigen.  In some people this response can be caused by the test itself.  It is possible that he has been exposed to someone who has TB.  However unless he is actively coughing it is unlikely that he has active TB.  If the PPD is positive the next step is a chest X-ray.  

A positive PPD dose not mean your child has TB necessarily it is just an indicator.  Think of it as a way to screen people to see who needs a chest x-ray.  Also a possitive test dose not mean that you need to take medications.

I would not 'freak out' yet however if you are worried call your doctor.

Answer 2

i would take him back to the doctors.. because when my friend got hers it didnt swell up at all.. i hope everything works out ok

Answer 3

No no no...it's ok....I have this same problem...I work at a nursing home and need this test also. The first two times i got this test I had the same exact result and it itched like crazy. It turns out, i had an allergic reation to it. It's not a big deal....From now on i can't get the tb test I need a chest xray every time. It doesn't mean i have tb it's just a reaction.....he'll be ok just don't get the tb tests any more have a doctor check it in 2 days from the day u got the shot and if it's still that way then they'll tell u to get a chest xray also.

Answer 4

I'm not positive but I think your child might have TB. I took the test about a week ago and did not have any reactions. But I am not a doctor. Don't freak out, but I do recommend you take your child to his doctor as soon as possible just to see what is going on.

Nothing bad is happening to your son right now, so don't freak out about that. Your child will not be harmed. The reason you need to go to his doctor is to find out what the red spot indicates.  

Answer 5

Even if you have a positive TB test, it doesn't mean you have active TB or will ever get active TB.  There are two medication courses that you can do, although I am not sure they are safe for 11 year olds.  One of them is curative, and cures TB.  He'll prob need a chest Xray, but most people with positive TB tests end up fine, and that ones that don't just have to take medication for a little while.  

Answer 6

don't worry!

it might just be a false alarm

he might have had the shots when he was younger  

Answer 7

Give it the 48 hours and have it read.  Sometimes it goes down within a day or two.  Most likely, your child has been exposed to someone who has TB.  The clinician will take the read on the third day.  If it is still red and puffy, he will have to be treated with meds.  They will also have to take an x-ray of his lungs, samples of his blood, and tissues to see if the TB is active or dormant.  Don't worry--- just wait out the 48 yours --- Okay?  ---- Toni D.