US doctors wants to treat for TB

[reeses16 8]

Hi! My husband just established a primary care doctor here in the US at clinic that specializes in international patients. Part of his first exam was a standard set of tests that all new patients are required to take. They made him do a TB skin test even though we told them that he was checked for TB and had a clear chest x-ray in June for his K1visa. (problem we don't have copies of his records it was all taken by the consulate/immigration at POE so we're not sure if he had the TB vaccine). He did the skin test...+, no surprise. Then another chest x-ray, again it was clear. The doctor said that the immigration chest x-ray is meant only to check for ACTIVE TB. If a person has TB, but it is not active (in a phases where it can be spread to other people) they will allow the person to get the visa and travel.

In any case, my husbands chest x-ray is clear, but becuase he's from a high risk country (Ethiopia) and they're putting him on 9 months of TB meds. I wanted to post this to see if anyone had a similar experience. And just to let other people know that if your SO got a visa is it doesn't necessarily mean they shouldn't be checked again because the purpose of the test for consulate (travel) is different that it is for a doctor (patient health) treating your SO.

-DA

[Mags 112]

If he has had the vaccine then his skin test will be positive. But as you've no way to tell if he has had it, I guess you have no option but to take the meds.

[sk28 1]

He doesn’t have to take the antibiotics, if he doesn’t want. Does he remember when he was young and they gave him a Tb skin test if that was positive like 10 years ago it is a very small chance that he will develop TB. In the other case that he has been infected in the last year the chance of developing a TB is little higher. US has a different look at TB than let say Europe. So the antibiotics are mainly to reduce the risk of TB, he could still develop TB later in his life. The chances of a full blown TB are less than 10 % in a whole life span, if you are exposed to the bacteria. If he is concerned about it he should visit a lung doctor.

[Ta Ta 1]

Can you contact the panel physician where he had the medical to inquire if TB vaccine was given ?

[sk28 1]

Can you contact the panel physician where he had the medical to inquire if TB vaccine was given ?

OK, if your induration is more than 10 mm, they will try to give you the 9 month antibiotics treatment, especially if he is from country with prevalent TB even if you were vaccinated. All others if its more than 15mm. To be able to rule out the BCG your husband need to get QuantiFERON-TB test. The test is not available everywhere. Contact your primary physician

Edited October 6, 2007 by sk28

[~*Maria*~ 1]

My TB skin test was positive with a 16mm duration, chest x-ray was clear. I had it done here in the States in July. I had the BCG done in UK when i was 3 months old. Also had a Positive Tb skin test when i was 13 at High school which is the normal age when they usually give you the BCG, i had mine done early, due to the fact my aunt had came into contact with someone that had TB.

The CS wanted me to take a course of meds too, but i've heard they make you sick, so i wasn't going to put my health at risk!!

So the CS put on the forms, BCG given at 3 mos old, Declined INH treatment!

No written documentation to prove it though! only have the BCG scarring on my arm!

Edited October 6, 2007 by MariaDane

[selly 0]

I recently went to a civil surgeon for my supplimentary, a story in itself, and was told there that I would probably be told to re-do the TB element of the physical including x-ray. To me this is again just another hurdle put in to defer legitimate migrants entering the country. I discussed this with my wife and we are of a mind to sue for the cost of the first x-ray if we are required to re-do it. At the end of the day, if the medical showed that you were clear to enter the country ie therefore presented no medical risk to the country, why should you be any more of a risk once you actually arrive? Another example of stupidity in this area was the practioner insisting that I had to have another HIV / STD test no more than three months after the first one because it is different now I'm in the US??? It wasn't until I raised the 6 month incubation period and that the test would be worthless (for HIV anyway) that she relaxed and said well if you had it in June you will be okay.

Shifting standards or rather no standard as to what is required! USCIS should standardise the procedure and get rid of the greedy CS that are abusing their positions.