A member asked:

I had come in contact with an individual, not knowing that he had tuberculosis, am i okay? i had given a ride to a man that i knew, and 2 days later found out he had/has tuberculosis. what should i do and am i okay? how do i sanitize my car? he was only

3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

First : First of all, you need to find out if the man currently has active tuberculosis (latent tuberculosis is not contagious unless it become active) and if he is on treatment (most people are no longer contagious after a few weeks of antibiotics). If he does have active tuberculosis and is not on therapy (or has only just started therapy), then call your doctor. You should see your doctor and have them place a PPD test. This is a test where they place a bubble of fluid containing tuberculosis proteins under the skin of your arm. You will be checked in 48 hours and if your immune system reacts by causing swelling and redness, then you have been exposed and will need a chest x-ray and medication. Your doctor may want to repeat the PPD test in a few weeks after the first if the first one is negative just to make sure the first one wasn't done too early. Since tuberculosis can only live for a few hours outside of the body, there's no special sanitation you need to do to your car's interior. However since it can live for a few hours outside of the body, you need to warn anyone else that was in your car after the infected man that they might be exposed. Below i attached a link with information on tuberculosis from the national institute of health.

Answered 10/3/2016

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Dr. J. Blake Perkins answered

Specializes in Dentistry

See your doctor: Since tuberculosis is transmitted through the air you breathe, if the person/people you were in contact with were coughing and symptomatic, you should see your physician promptly. Especially if the person had blood in their saliva/sputum. Tb is nothing to mess around with!

Answered 3/28/2013

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