Questions about tuberculosis and medical records

[Tim and Erin 3]

I'm on VJ daily now, finding loads of helpful information. Yes, I'm addicted.

I've been on the Seiden website looking at the immunization requirements etc....

I remember as a child being tested for tuberculosis, and I had a reaction which resulted in my having to take some pills for a period of time. Since I was young at the time, I don't recall how long I took the pills for, or whether I was even required to stay home from school. From what I remember, I was told I had only been in CONTACT with someone who had been infected with tb. Nothing ever happened after that...I didn't get sick or anything.

My first question is whether this positive test reaction that I had as a child should be of any concern to me at this point?

Regarding my immunization record, my second question is whether I can obtain that somehow from the Ministry of Health?

I am aware of the titre test to determine what I am immune to, and I will go that route if necessary.

I don't have a family doctor right now...I just use a walkin clinic when necessary...so I don't have access to any previous medical files.

So another question would be, how do I obtain ALL of my medical history files from childhood until now?

[Danu 19]

You might be able to get it from the Health Unit, I'd try there. For the past TB, I don't think it poses a problem unless when they do your xray something comes up, but if you had taken the course of drugs and havent had any issues I'd think you are ok. If you ever got a TB vaccination (I did) they tend to give false positives as well, so if you were vaccinated they may have put you on drugs for no reason. They don't ask at the medical if you have had TB before though, just surgeries etc.

[What Happened? 4]

Hi,

I can't answer your question regarding how to obtain your medical records....but typically once you test positive with a TB tine test, you will always test positive.

A positive reaction is only telling you that at some point in your life, you have been exposed to Tuberculosis. It is an antibody-antigen reaction. If you had not been exposed before your body would not launch a strong enough immune response to cause the type of swelling that come with a positive result. When you have been exposed before....the next exposure will cause your body to launch a strong immune response. This is how the immune system works.

But just because you have a positive result does nt mean that you are walking around with TB .....the test can not tell us if you have TB presently in your system.

That is why after a positive TB tine test you will get an xray done so the docs can see if there is any bacteria in your lungs.

if not....you're good to go. but if they suspect infection, they will do a culture and if you will take antibiotics until it is gone....but you will test positive all your life with a TB tine test. Only if the culture was negative would you have taken antibiotics for no reason. but because cultures take so long.....a doc will most likely start antibiotics before knowing your culture results.

hope this helps and best wishes

Edited November 10, 2009 by What Happened?

[Inky 1,110]

I was told at my medical in montreal that TB testing for immigration is done with xrays only, not by scratch tests, the only time they give a scratch test for TB is if something shows up on the Xray. Like the others said it shouldnt be a problem unless it shows something on the Xrays and if so then you might just be put on a 6 month pill regime and then retested again later. - Seen this come up alot in the philipines forum actually. Maybe you could find some info there?

Either way ill keep my fingers crossed for you!

[What Happened? 4]

I was told at my medical in montreal that TB testing for immigration is done with xrays only, not by scratch tests, the only time they give a scratch test for TB is if something shows up on the Xray. Like the others said it shouldnt be a problem unless it shows something on the Xrays and if so then you might just be put on a 6 month pill regime and then retested again later. - Seen this come up alot in the philipines forum actually. Maybe you could find some info there?

Either way ill keep my fingers crossed for you!

Typically the Tine test is only skipped if the patient has had a history of a positive test or if the patien had received a certain type of vaccination which would make them always test positive.

If a person, immigrant or nonimmigrant had never had a positive TB tine then I would suggest they insist on getting the tine done before going directly to an Xray. Xrays should not be done liberally as too many can cause other problems down the road. ...

[mast3r12 0]

I was told at my medical in montreal that TB testing for immigration is done with xrays only, not by scratch tests, the only time they give a scratch test for TB is if something shows up on the Xray. Like the others said it shouldnt be a problem unless it shows something on the Xrays and if so then you might just be put on a 6 month pill regime and then retested again later. - Seen this come up alot in the philipines forum actually. Maybe you could find some info there?

Either way ill keep my fingers crossed for you!

Typically the Tine test is only skipped if the patient has had a history of a positive test or if the patien had received a certain type of vaccination which would make them always test positive.

If a person, immigrant or nonimmigrant had never had a positive TB tine then I would suggest they insist on getting the tine done before going directly to an Xray. Xrays should not be done liberally as too many can cause other problems down the road. ...

Well considering the OP's history, he had exposure to TB when he was a child, went through the standard rx regimen. If he were to be infected still, it would have progressed enough to show on Xrays, but I'm guessing it did not because he's had no symptoms of it (weight loss, evening fevers, night sweats etc.) so I think the OP is fine in regards to being infected by TB. As you mentioned, a previous exposure or immunization will result in a positive monteux test, but the immigration authorities cannot use that as a reason to deny, that's where the Xray comes in.. if they find that your TB has progressed and eventually healed (leading to fibrous scar -- which is what they look for on the Xray), then they'll let you off. Again, this is only if your TB has progressed, which I do not think it has.

[Danu 19]

I was told at my medical in montreal that TB testing for immigration is done with xrays only, not by scratch tests, the only time they give a scratch test for TB is if something shows up on the Xray. Like the others said it shouldnt be a problem unless it shows something on the Xrays and if so then you might just be put on a 6 month pill regime and then retested again later. - Seen this come up alot in the philipines forum actually. Maybe you could find some info there?

Either way ill keep my fingers crossed for you!

Typically the Tine test is only skipped if the patient has had a history of a positive test or if the patien had received a certain type of vaccination which would make them always test positive.

If a person, immigrant or nonimmigrant had never had a positive TB tine then I would suggest they insist on getting the tine done before going directly to an Xray. Xrays should not be done liberally as too many can cause other problems down the road. ...

Regardless, our medical centers do the xray, not the Tine test, and with a history they would test positive anyway if they did the tine test.

[Sam and Ben 2]

Although I don't know about your TB-related questions, depending on your age and whether or not you've kept the health unit updated on your vaccinations, you can call them directly and ask that your vaccination record be mailed out to you.

[SapphireDreams 71]

The Public Health unit where you went to Elementary/High school should have a record of your vaccinations.

In terms of getting your health records from your childhood up until now. You'll need to contact the Dr. you saw as a child and see if they even still have them. They are only obligated to keep records for a certain amount of time, so chances are they got rid of them. If they do have them, they can send them you (or copies) and usually charge a per page fee to fax or mail them. There's no central location with all your files unfortunately.

[Tim and Erin 3]

Thanks for your replies.

I contacted my local health unit but they didn't have a record. So I just emailed the health unit in the city where I went to school. So we'll see what they say.

I also wonder just how long a doctor would keep medical records once you're moved....

[antda 13]

Hi ErinG,

I don't know about former medical records...(though I admit, I had such a hard time getting such too..as I had no regular family doctor as a child in Canada...thank goodness though, my parents kept somewhat good records of my immunizations..and gave them to me when I was an adult, after I asked them for such...lol....though I had to have my husband pick them up from Canada..since I was stuck in the USA while my AOS case was pending...)

But I do know that if you had tb before, or have been exposed in some way for it before, you can ask for an x-ray instead.

That's what the dr did here for me in the USA, when I went for my immigration medical a few years ago for the AOS.

I had this x-ray done, as in my past medical records it said that I was exposed to such when I had to get tested many years ago for a volunteer job in Canada. They said that for me the traditional skin test wasn't enough..so I got the x-ray at the local hospital instead...No problems, a few minutes in and out...(lol..though it costs $200 or so..as I had no medical insurance..in the USA...).

Hope this helps. Good luck with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

Edited November 10, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[redmen99 1]

You may just be better off getting the titre test. My hubby finally went to the walk in clinic today to get the test and his tetanus shot that I have been bugging him to get for months. He was in and out in about a half hour. I was shocked! He was told he has to contact public health for the test results.

[Krikit 1,163]

I've read where some people have had success obtaining their vaccination records by contacting their provincial department of health.

The positive TB reaction is nothing to be concerned about. Many of us test positive. The x-ray which they give you during the medical will be the final determination of the results.