Tuberculosis - How contagious?

[tbquery]

My sister works in close contact (small shared office) with someone who has just been diagnosed with TB.

The woman has been ill for weeks, but has been at work almost all of the time, and was in work today when she got the phone call with her diagnosis.

Everyone in the workplace now has to be tested over the next week (or as soon as they can get a doc app). Basically I was wondering how contagious TB is, I have googled, but it is fairly vague.

My sister has a condition which effects her heart and lungs as it is, so really concerned for her, and then for her kids, and mine that have spent a lot of time with her recently (school hols etc)

Also if my sister had caught it, how long would it be before she started showing symptoms?

My sister said the woman's GP said that as they share a phone in the office, that could be fairly dodgy (saliva droplets) and that her desk area should be cleaned with an antibacterial spray. Anything else apart from this to stop the spread?

Name changed as don't want to out myself, as may show thread to sister.

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Anyone?

Where is this womans TB?

Was your sister not vaccinated (BCG - at about 12 yo if I remember)?

I don't think they do it now, as TB is so rare, but certainly I was vaccinated.

Suggest your sis contacts her GP and gets tested.

But yes, it is contagious!

It is contagious but not as contagious as the common cold IYSWIM. It can take a while for symptoms to show up so it is good that they are being tested as a precaution. If their tests are positive they can be treated. AFAIK it is more contagious after symptoms show so not like flu which is very contagious before symptoms show.

I was vaccinated as were all my classmates, I am in my 30s. I am not sure when they stopped the vaccination program. I think it was relatively recently though.

Thanks for your posts.

The TB is in the woman's lungs (well I presume as she has had a very persistent cough) although I didn't realise you could have it in other places, so I am not 100% sure on that.

My sister has had the BCG I'm sure, as a baby I think, has a massive mark on her arm from it, although I had it as a teenager.

My sis can't get a doc app until the end of next week, but i am sure that will be ok time wise, another girl who works with them is in the early stages of pregnancy, so i think she was trying to get tested ASAP.

if she has had bcg it is very very unlikely she will catch it.

i didnt have a bcg and my husband had TB- i didnt catch it. neither did my sister who was living with us at the time. so whilst it is very contagious, even without the vacc and very close contact- doesnt mean you will get it for sure

My sons had the bcg as babies as we were going to India. I was told at the time it was only protecting them for around 16 years.

hmmm..thats interesting Quintmy dds had it at birth and we werent told thati need to look into that

It could be they use a different, and not so long lasting vaccine for young children.

I have lurked on Mumsnet for years and am now finally commenting because I though I should give you the perspective from someone living in Africa where TB is a serious problem. We had a similar problem in my workplace recently.

Firstly, it is contagious and is transmitted by droplets that are coughed out (in adults - children with TB do not transmit generally). But it is not easy to contract - firstly, you have to be predisposed to it (no way of knowing if you are or not) and secondly, you need to be in pretty close contact over a long period. This is why TB is more prevalent in slums where people live close to each other. Finally, if you are immuno-compromised (HIV+ for eg), you are much more likely to contract TB. Having said all that, I was told by a GP here recently that they now give family members immediate prophylactic treatment if someone is diagnosed with TB - I think this is a measure of what a huge health problem it is in this part of the world. The BCG is only effective against some types of TB and is generally thought to offer only limited protection.

I would suggest that your sister raises any concerns she has with whoever is doing the tests (particular if she has heart and lung issues) and be aware of the symptoms so that if she does contract it, she can be treated immediately. Here is some very simply put information on TB if it helps: www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/pubs/public_info/W/214614

Thanks Bejeezus, that's reassuring to hear.

Interesting about the 16 year thing, I didn't know that, and it is well over 16 years since my sis would have had it.

Thanks clearchange for posting Your link it useful thank you, I will be sure to tell my sis to mention her other problems to who ever she sees to get tested, although if it is her own GP, he will be aware, due to some health problems at the end of last year her immune system is rubbish just now (she doesn't have much luck health wise!! ) so hopefully even with all this she will avoid it.

My darling dad was diagnosed with tb last june. He had no cough to speak of, and hadnt lost rapid amounts of wieght. He was however coughing tiny streaks of blood. it took three xrays to discover it, his gp seemed quite shocked. We as a family had to be tested and we were all clear. T he cocktail of drugs he was on was massive.

tbquery it is worrying for your sister but the good news is that it is totally treatable. Used to be that they could only test for it definitively by doing a sputum test but they have just developed a new blood test which apparently will revolutionise the fight against the disease because it is cheap, quick and accurate.

Several years ago I was in a similar situation. A colleague was coming to work with a dreadful cough for weeks and weeks. Eventually he was sent to the company doctor and from there was diagnosed with TB. We all had to go and be tested and a few people were put on a course of medication.

It was a big, open plan call centre and we didn't have our own desks so everyone was in close contact with the guy at some stage bu AFAIK no-one else developed TB.

Hope it works out ok for your sister.