My dad has TB... who the hell has TB anymore?

[Catshrink]

The doc said in January that Dad had either TB or cancer, both of which seemed remote. His TB skin test was negative but he had a mysterious build up of fluid in his lungs. This fluid returned shortly after being removed. They thought it might be pneumonia, but it didn't respond to meds.

Then he broke his hip. While in the hospital they did a sputum test and sure enough, he has TB. The doc thinks it's been dormant for a long time but the stress he's had the past year brought it on.

The TB meds are hard on the liver, but TB is a more hopeful diagnosis than cancer. He's 85 and his hip surgery was his first since he had his appendix removed when he was 14. He's been incredibly healthy his entire life.

[NightTrain]

1. Unfortunately, TB has made a comeback in the last 20 years.

I seem to recall hearing that it somehow is connected to the AIDS epidemic. :shrug:

[lancdem]

2. People who are HIV positive

are particularly vulnerable to TB.

[Catshrink]

3. Hmmmm Dad isn't HIV positive...

but with the stress his immune system may be vulnerable. Mom died in January -- they'd been married 64 years. He's a lost puppy now, even though we do our best to care for him.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. A loss after 64 years of marriage must be terribly hard on your father.

My father died 12 years ago next month. This coming December, they would have celebrated their 70th anniversary. How wonderful that your parents had that long a life together.

Just occurred to me that 12/8/04 will be a damn difficult day for my mother, who is now 92.

Best wishes to you and your father, Catshrink.

[efhmc]

8. It is definitely back and can attack those with a compromised

immune system. Foreign travel and enclosed ac systems on planes have also been cited.

[DemoTex]

11. Long-haul airline crews at risk too.

Old disease knocking at the door again. So sorry about your dad.

[dsc]

4. there is a new version of TB

It is a bit of an epidemic. Teachers have to take TB tests before getting school employment and many people have been getting it in institutions such as hospitals, prisons, orphanages, etc.

[Kat45]

5. You have to take a TB test to work at a hospital

And when you work there, you have to have the test every year. I recently had my third TB test within three years.

[chookie]

7. What part of the country are you in?

Sadly, TB is making a comeback. At least part of the problem is over-use and misuse of antibiotics.

Because it takes such a darned long regimine of medication, some people don't follow through, leading to resistant strains.

I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. I wish you all the evry best. Give him a big hug from me.

[NMDemDist2]

9. I had TB about 10 years ago --- had to take pills for a year :-P eom

edit to add I got it from a HIV infected friend before they realized what it was. I miss my friend a lot, the pills were worth the time I got to spend with him.

[Dookus]

10. sadly

TB isn't all that rare anymore. It's treatable. But he MUST take his meds for the entire course prescribed. One of the reasons it's becoming prevalent again is too many people go off the meds when they "feel better" and it just creates a resistant form of the bug.

[Catshrink]

12. Thank you, everyone..

for your good wishes for Dad. He's a feisty old guy and I know he'll pull through. We were afraid he'd give up, but he's a fighter.

I didn't know TB was coming back so strongly.