Stephani Stephenson on thu 28 feb 02
I recently discovered some new developments for people who have had
positive skin tests for TB(tuberculosis).
In the US the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has recently changed its
recommendation for treating people who have had positive skin tests.
They have raised the age threshold to 50
So, if you are under 50 and have had a positive skin test , indicating
prior exposure to TB,they recommend you be treated for TB.
I'm just passing this on in layman's terms (mine) so don't take it as if
I am a doctor
As I understand it,
Skin tests tell you if you have ever been exposed to TB bacteria.
Usually you then have a chest X-ray to see of there is active TB
For many exposed people , the immune system readily encapsulates the
small amount of TB bacteria, keeping it 'dormant', unable to reproduce.
Most who have positive skin tests will NEVER develop active TB during
their lifetime.
However it turns out that in certain situations when the immune system
is taxed or compromised, later in life or when taxed by other immune
weakening diseases, the protective 'capsule' containing TB bacteria can
break down and the TB can become active and released back into the
system.
The only reason I mention it on this list is that silicoses is listed
as one of the other contributing risk factors . I don't quite know
what the correlation is , but there seems to be one. So risk of
silicosis might factor in determining if you want to be treated for TB,
even if you have dormant TB.
So , as our profession , pottery and working with clay,does involve
exposure to silica dust and , some of us have protected ourselves in
ways better or worse, it sounded like information I'd like to know about
anyway.
The treatment has been used for some time. I believe it involves taking
one pill per month for 9 months.
This supposedly kills the TB.
In many states if you are going to work with children in an educational
setting you must get a TB test. (I had to have one a few years ago when
I did some 'Clay camps' through the local Parks and Rec department.)
Prior to this the CDC only recommended treatment for people under 35.
So some of you who have had positive skin test before, but healthy
looking x-rays, may now be told you need treatment, whereas before you
were told, 'no problem'.
So if you have had a positive skin test and a life of exposure to clay,
consider asking your doctor's advice.
Just thought I would pass this along.
Stephani Stephenson
steph@alchemiestudio.com
Carlsbad CA 92018
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