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TB

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madtownguy Community Regular

madtownguy   164

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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Do they still not give vaccines for TB? I'm confused as why it's a big issue in Philippines but not many other countries. Is there a certain date they start giving immunizations for it? I'm surprised at the number of people that post problems with it at the medical exam, I would think you know if you have it or not but I guess not.

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sld Collaborator

sld   5

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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Posted (edited)

There isn't a current vaccine anywhere for TB.

You will get a Positive TB skin if: Exposure to TB or having a BCG.

If Positive, the patient will require a chest x-ray and sputum test.

If the chest x-ray is positive then medication will be needed.

I have had a annual PPD/TB Test for 17 years and it is always Negative.

USA doesn't do BCG's.

I am a Vaccine nurse.

Edited by sld

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madtownguy Community Regular

madtownguy   164

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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I guess I don't get why would it matter if you have it when it is curable and if there is no vaccine that means you can get it in the US too? I have a cough right now maybe I have TB right now...

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storminnorman Enthusiast

storminnorman   9

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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There isn't a current vaccine anywhere for TB.

You will get a Positive TB skin if: Exposure to TB or having a BCG.

If Positive, the patient will require a chest x-ray and sputum test.

If the chest x-ray is positive then medication will be needed.

I have had a annual PPD/TB Test for 17 years and it is always Negative.

USA doesn't do BCG's.

I am a Vaccine nurse.

I have a vaccination record during my childhood, is this be ok to bring later for interview? thank you..BTW, this record was in 1992 when i was like 7 months old.Please help me guys...thanks..

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Tahoma Veteran

Tahoma   2,291

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
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I have a vaccination record during my childhood, is this be ok to bring later for interview? thank you..BTW, this record was in 1992 when i was like 7 months old.Please help me guys...thanks..

Yes, bring your vaccination record along with you to your medical at St. Lukes.

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Tahoma Veteran

Tahoma   2,291

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
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I guess I don't get why would it matter if you have it when it is curable and if there is no vaccine that means you can get it in the US too? I have a cough right now maybe I have TB right now...

You can get TB anywhere. It matters if you have it because it can kill you. It also matters because you can spread it to others. You should have your doctor check out that cough.

By the way, there's a blood test for TB.

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sld Collaborator

sld   5

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Bring all records

85X1m8.png
USCIS (78 Days)
11/06/2012- Filed I-130 through Congressman
11/08/2012- USCIS Received date/ Priority date
11/14/2012- NOA1 Hardcopy sent
01/25/2013- NOA 2: APPROVED Letter sent(on-line verified)
02/01/2013- Hard copy NOA2 received@1406 hrs
NVC (30 Days)
02/04/2013- NVC Received
02/21/2013- NVC Case Number (MNL2013-xx-xxxx)
02/21/2013- Sent DS-3032 emailed
02/25/2013- Received/Paid I-864 Bill
02/26/2013- I-864 Showing PAID
02/28/2013-Return Completed I-864 and DS-230
03/01/2013- Confirmation of Completed DS-3032
03/01/2013-Received IV Bill
03/06/2013-IV BILL Paid correctly
03/06/2013-CASE COMPLETED AT NVC
03/07/2013-IV BILL SHOWING PAID!
03/12/2013 Completed case sent to US Embassy Manila
Embassy (28 Days)
03/14/2013-Embassy Received
03/19/2013-Medical Completed
04/03/2013-Interview & Result, PASSED!
04/04/2012-CFO
04/10/2013-Visa Issued
04/11/2013-VIsa/Passport picked up@MOA/CFO Sticker/Flight
04/11/2013-POE-Hawaii and HOME!

04/30/2013- Green Card arrived

05/05/2013-State ID issued

4/18/2016 N-400 mailed

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TnJ Proficient

TnJ   131

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
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Posted (edited)

I'm surprised at the number of people that post problems with it at the medical exam, I would think you know if you have it or not but I guess not.

The problem you are seeing is that anyone over age 15 receives a chest x-ray at the medical. If any suspicious spot shows on the lungs, the panel physician has discretion to order further sputum/culture testing which causes delay. Many people come out negative for TB as spots can show for a number of reasons. However, there is nothing we can do about the delay if it is deemed necessary. TB is a highly contagious and deadly disease if not treated. Treatment is available. Healthcare workers, among others, are tested annually in the US because of this. One can be infected as a carrier not displaying signs or symptoms. TB is a bigger problem in the Philippines than most other countries so this might have some relation to the extra cautionary measures taken with the immigration medical.

Edited by TnJ

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sld Collaborator

sld   5

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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When did 'pinas stop using the BCG vaccine?

I stand corrected, WE don't use it in the USA.

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/prevention/bcg.htm

BCG Vaccine

Introduction

BCG, or bacille Calmette-Guerin, is a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB) disease. Many foreign-born persons have been BCG-vaccinated. BCG is used in many countries with a high prevalence of TB to prevent childhood tuberculous meningitis and miliary disease. However, BCG is not generally recommended for use in the United States because of the low risk of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the variable effectiveness of the vaccine against adult pulmonary TB, and the vaccine’s potential interference with tuberculin skin test reactivity. The BCG vaccine should be considered only for very select persons who meet specific criteria and in consultation with a TB expert.

Recommendations

Children. BCG vaccination should only be considered for children who have a negative tuberculin skin test and who are continually exposed, and cannot be separated from, adults who

  • Are untreated or ineffectively treated for TB disease (if the child cannot be given long-term treatment for infection); or
  • Have TB caused by strains resistant to isoniazid and rifampin.

Health Care Workers. BCG vaccination of health care workers should be considered on an individual basis in settings in which

  • A high percentage of TB patients are infected with M. tuberculosis strains resistant to both isoniazid and rifampin;
  • There is ongoing transmission of such drug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains to health care workers and subsequent infection is likely; or
  • Comprehensive TB infection-control precautions have been implemented, but have not been successful.

Health care workers considered for BCG vaccination should be counseled regarding the risks and benefits associated with both BCG vaccination and treatment of Latent TB Infection (LTBI).

Contraindications

Immunosuppression. BCG vaccination should not be given to persons who are immunosuppressed (e.g., persons who are HIV infected) or who are likely to become immunocompromised (e.g., persons who are candidates for organ transplant).

Pregnancy. BCG vaccination should not be given during pregnancy. Even though no harmful effects of BCG vaccination on the fetus have been observed, further studies are needed to prove its safety.

Testing for TB in BCG-Vaccinated Persons

The tuberculin skin test (TST) and blood tests to detect TB infection are not contraindicated for persons who have been vaccinated with BCG.

Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). BCG vaccination may cause a false-positive reaction to the TST, which may complicate decisions about prescribing treatment. The presence or size of a TST reaction in persons who have been vaccinated with BCG does not predict whether BCG will provide any protection against TB disease. Furthermore, the size of a TST reaction in a BCG-vaccinated person is not a factor in determining whether the reaction is caused by LTBI or the prior BCG vaccination. (See below for specific guidance on skin test results.)

TB Blood Tests. Blood tests to detect TB infection, unlike the TST, are not affected by prior BCG vaccination and are less likely to give a false-positive result.

Treatment for LTBI in BCG-Vaccinated Persons

Treatment of LTBI substantially reduces the risk that TB infection will progress to disease. Careful assessment to rule out the possibility of TB disease is necessary before treatment for LTBI is started. Evaluation of TST reactions in persons vaccinated with BCG should be interpreted using the same criteria for those not BCG-vaccinated. Persons in the following high-risk groups should be given treatment for LTBI if their reaction to the TST is at least 5 mm of induration or they have a positive result using a TB blood test:

  • HIV-infected persons
  • Recent contacts to a TB case
  • Persons with fibrotic changes on chest radiograph consistent with old TB
  • Patients with organ transplants
  • Persons who are immunosuppressed for other reasons (e.g., taking the equivalent of >15 mg/day of prednisone for 1 month or longer, taking TNF-a antagonists)

In addition, persons in the following high-risk groups should be considered for treatment of LTBI if their reaction to the TST is at least 10 mm of induration or they have a positive result using a TB blood test:

  • Recent arrivals (less than 5 years) from high-prevalence countries
  • Injection drug users
  • Residents and employees of high-risk congregate settings (e.g., correctional facilities, nursing homes, homeless shelters, hospitals, and other health care facilities)
  • Mycobacteriology laboratory personnel
  • Persons with clinical conditions that place them at high-risk for developing TB disease (e.g., diabetes)
  • Children less than 4 years of age, or children and adolescents exposed to adults in high-risk categories

Persons with no known risk factors for TB may be considered for treatment of LTBI if their reaction to the tuberculin test is at least 15 mm of induration or they have a positive result using a TB blood test. Targeted skin testing programs should only be conducted among high-risk groups. All testing activities should be accompanied by a plan for follow-up care for persons with TB infection or disease.

Additional Information

85X1m8.png
USCIS (78 Days)
11/06/2012- Filed I-130 through Congressman
11/08/2012- USCIS Received date/ Priority date
11/14/2012- NOA1 Hardcopy sent
01/25/2013- NOA 2: APPROVED Letter sent(on-line verified)
02/01/2013- Hard copy NOA2 received@1406 hrs
NVC (30 Days)
02/04/2013- NVC Received
02/21/2013- NVC Case Number (MNL2013-xx-xxxx)
02/21/2013- Sent DS-3032 emailed
02/25/2013- Received/Paid I-864 Bill
02/26/2013- I-864 Showing PAID
02/28/2013-Return Completed I-864 and DS-230
03/01/2013- Confirmation of Completed DS-3032
03/01/2013-Received IV Bill
03/06/2013-IV BILL Paid correctly
03/06/2013-CASE COMPLETED AT NVC
03/07/2013-IV BILL SHOWING PAID!
03/12/2013 Completed case sent to US Embassy Manila
Embassy (28 Days)
03/14/2013-Embassy Received
03/19/2013-Medical Completed
04/03/2013-Interview & Result, PASSED!
04/04/2012-CFO
04/10/2013-Visa Issued
04/11/2013-VIsa/Passport picked up@MOA/CFO Sticker/Flight
04/11/2013-POE-Hawaii and HOME!

04/30/2013- Green Card arrived

05/05/2013-State ID issued

4/18/2016 N-400 mailed

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Grant PDX Collaborator

Grant PDX   183

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Philippines
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My ex- came to the US on a fiancee visa and passed her original medical. On a later trip back to the Philippines she picked up TB. We didn't know for several months but after it was finally diagnosed she had to have 4 different pills daily for a 6 month treatment. Because of the seriousness of the sickness, the medical folks had to watch her take the pills every day for 6 months. Missing pills can make the TB medication resistant. It is very contagious and if it becomes antibiotic resistant can be a very serious issue. Because it is so prevalent in the Philippines they are serious about the testing, rather than allow entry into the US of such a contagious and potentially deadly disease.

It can be a pain waiting, but it is for the protection of everyone else.

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