Question 1

what's the best treatment for a positive ppd skin test?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis: Ppd (purified protein derivative) is a test for exposure to tuberculosis.  If you have a postive test, you have been exposed and your body is making antibodies.  If your exposure was through a vaccine (called bcg) treatment might not be necassary.  More likely, a chest xray will be ordered.  If that shows evidence of disease, then several drugs will be given over several months to cure it.

Question 2

what does it mean if ppd tuberculin skin test came out positive?

Accepted Answer

See below: If your PPD is positive you need a chest x-ray and a screening by your doctor.  At your age, if your chest x-ray is normal and you have no risk factors you may not need any treatment.  If you have risk factors, treatment of latent TB has become much easier in the last year.  If you are determined to have active TB you can be cured with 6 months of TB therapy.

Question 3

ppd skin test, negative, no reaction and swelling (72 hrs). the test was taken in last tuesday morning, 9am, now it gets swelling and itch. positive?

Accepted Answer

Delayed onset ppd: This could represent a positive reaction. Their is a besst confirmatory test called a quantiferon-gold test which is a gamma-interferon release assay for tb. It has some limitations but if positive is very accurate for diagnosis, ask an infectious disease specialist about this if your pcp does not know about this test.

Question 4

what can cause a positive ppd test reading?

Accepted Answer

Mycobacteria: Tuberculosis and other members of the same family, some less severe.   There are also "positives" that aren't true in duration - like an allergic reaction at the site within minutes of ppd placement.

Question 5

what does a positive ppd test look or feel like?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Who are you, what underlying conditions do you have.   Generally, for a normal non-hiv adult, a one centimeter area of induration (hardness of the underlying tissues) is considered positive.   Do not count areas of redness.  If positive it means you have living mycobacteria somewhere in your body, although these can remain inactive the rest of your life.

Question 6

what does it mean if i had a positive ppd test and now the place looks like a blister with a red ring around it?

Accepted Answer

Tuberculosis: You have been exposed to tuberculosis or have been immunized with BCG vaccine. Usually the next step is a chest xray.

Question 7

if i have a positive ppd test but show no symptoms or anything of tb am i contagious to others? or is only active tb disease contagious

Accepted Answer

Need Evaluation: Typically positive PPD demoted primary complex disease.
This is usually not contagious
Per standards a chest xray is mandatory, to determine status.
Prophylaxis/Rx with INH is needed.
Call you doctor for all this since it is standard practice.

Question 8

what's done for a positive ppd test?

Accepted Answer

Depends: That depends on your age, other health conditions, and whether you recently went from having a negative PPD to a positive one.  In some cases, we treat with a 9 month course of isoniazid, or a shorter course of Isoniazid and rifapentine, to eliminate the latent bacteria.

Question 9

what does a positive ppd test feel like?

Accepted Answer

Firmness: The diameter of the circle of hardened skin at the site of the PPD is measured, and depending upon who you are, what underlying diseases you may have, what medications you are taking, it is read in 48 hrs.  Do not measure the area of redness, only the area of firmness (induration).  Otherwise there are seldom other symptoms.

Question 10

if someone has a positive ppd test and is awaiting to?do the ?x-ray? should they be?be isolated?

Accepted Answer

Difficult to spread: Tb is a very slow growing germ that is unlikely to spread unless the person has a persistent cough, bloody sputum or other signs of active disease. Those with asymptomatic conversion of a PPD are unlikely to spread it casually. Intimate contact for extended periods may spread it so households of a positive case are often screened in the process.

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Doctor answers about:

Treatment for positive ppd skin test

A member asked:

What's the best treatment for a positive ppd skin test?

A member asked:

What does it mean if ppd tuberculin skin test came out positive?

A member asked:

Ppd skin test, negative, no reaction and swelling (72 hrs). the test was taken in last tuesday morning, 9am, now it gets swelling and itch. positive?

A member asked:

What can cause a positive ppd test reading?

A member asked:

What does a positive ppd test look or feel like?

A member asked:

What does it mean if i had a positive ppd test and now the place looks like a blister with a red ring around it?

A member asked:

If i have a positive ppd test but show no symptoms or anything of tb am i contagious to others? or is only active tb disease contagious

A member asked:

What's done for a positive ppd test?

A member asked:

What does a positive ppd test feel like?

A member asked:

If someone has a positive ppd test and is awaiting to?do the ?x-ray? should they be?be isolated?

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