Good day,
My sister was diagnosed with TB and started medication 3 weeks ago. She was booked off work for 2 weeks only (according to her). She went back to work after that. Now she is joining a team of teachers who are marking local external exams.
She does not voluntarily give information on her sickness, I also found out through her husband. May I ask if it is safe for her to be joining groups in enclosed areas at this point. Is she also forced to declare her illness?
Firstly, sorry to hear that your sister has been diagnosed with TB and I am sure your support will be invaluable for her. I would say, though, could it be possible she has Latent TB and not active pulmonary TB ( the latter being the type that others could contract when spending close time around them)? Particularly in certain professions ( such as nurses, teachers etc) where close contact is spent with others it is common for the individual to be routine tested for infections, such as TB when they start a new position with the company. Others are tested for infections when starting certain new medication. This is where latent TB can be identified. The individual does not have the active form and therefore is unable to pass it to others. However, in rare cases the latent form can turn active and this would also be a risk for the children / adults she would be teaching. Therefore, antibiotics given to kill off the latent TB bacteria is wise and generally we are classed as clear of the bacteria after the first 2 weeks. However, the course of antibiotics usually continues for several months to completely ensure it is killed off. I wonder if now is the time to talk tactfully to your sister to understand the actual situation she is in. It will be a difficult time for her too so a supportive ear ( rather than sounding fearful of her condition) will go a long way. If you find this too difficult maybe speak to someone close to her? A husband ? Parents? Close friend? I hope your mind is put to rest and you can continue your support for your sister through her difficult time and new job role.
Doctors advise TB patients about infection risks and whether they need to minimise contact with others. As Denise has said, your sister might have latent, not active TB. The majority of people with active TB pose a very low, if any, risk after 2-3 weeks on medication.
Morning, yes your sister is right, generally two weeks is enough before returning out in the community. I was very poorly with very high numbers of bacteria, which the doctor said I couldn’t go out for four weeks, but yes generally two weeks is the norm x
A million thanks for your responses, at least can support her informed now. I'll keep you posted on progress. Thanks again 🙏, indeed you are such a family.
Pleasure!
Hi Affectedlilsis,
I'm glad that you have had some useful responses. It is also worth mentioning that TB is relatively difficult to catch for adults in good health, as a strong immune system can kill TB bacteria and it takes a number of hours of exposure to be at risk. Also, simple hygiene measures such as covering coughs and sneezes and opening doors and windows can limit transfer of bacteria.
If your sister does have an infectious form of the illness then she will be asked to provide details of her close contacts - usually people she lives, works or socialises with - so they can be invited for testing.
Either way, your sister will be taking some unpleasant medication and will probably feel emotional about the whole situation, so your support during this difficult time will be crucial.
Best wishes,
Helen
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