Ask an expert
Search expert health advice:
Browse by expert
- Allergy expert
- Anti-ageing expert
- Arthritis expert
- Breast cancer expert
- Cancer expert
- CyberDoc
- Oral health expert
- Diabetes expert
- EnviroHealth expert
- Family law expert
Question
14 Feb 2006
Share
TB - dormant or contagious?
Hi Doc
I work in an office where one of the male staff has TB - Only the MD is supposed to know this as the employee feels it is a shameful disease. He got very sick in December and was off work for weeks, part of which he spent in hopsital. His doctor has put him on medication and told him it is a 6 month treatment.
My question is this: Is this person contagious? How at risk are the other people in the office? I was told that the affected employee doe not have "contagious TB" as he contracted it many years ago, that it is dormant in his system. How then did he get "actively" ill in December?
Most of us in the office have samll children - what is the risk?
I work in an office where one of the male staff has TB - Only the MD is supposed to know this as the employee feels it is a shameful disease. He got very sick in December and was off work for weeks, part of which he spent in hopsital. His doctor has put him on medication and told him it is a 6 month treatment.
My question is this: Is this person contagious? How at risk are the other people in the office? I was told that the affected employee doe not have "contagious TB" as he contracted it many years ago, that it is dormant in his system. How then did he get "actively" ill in December?
Most of us in the office have samll children - what is the risk?
CyberDoc
Hi Lee,
He is not contagious if he is on his treatment even if he must take it for 6 months. He probably had a flare up in Dec which could have made him contagious then. It may be a good idea to just go for a lung x/ray and screening test for TB if you worked in close contact with him. Unless you are sick your kids will be safe.
He is not contagious if he is on his treatment even if he must take it for 6 months. He probably had a flare up in Dec which could have made him contagious then. It may be a good idea to just go for a lung x/ray and screening test for TB if you worked in close contact with him. Unless you are sick your kids will be safe.
The information provided does not constitute a diagnosis of your condition. You should consult a medical practitioner or other appropriate health care professional for a physical examination, diagnosis and formal advice. Health24 and the expert accept no responsibility or liability for any damage or personal harm you may suffer resulting from making use of this content.
