Wintersong

Awww you look pretty cute in your pic, though it might have been concern over the whole chainsmoking baby thing

I have heard strange stories about BCG vaccinations not being recognised and testing positive for TB cos of the antibodies in your bloodstream though... any thoughts?

Manc

I had tested positive for TB...........

most people from the UK do, due to the vaccine you get as a kid.
You will then need to go for a chest X-ray to show there is no actual TB there.

Also needed Aids test, Tetanus (Which swelled up like a blood orange on my arm)

can't remember what else.

bored-silly

There is a huge Indian community in San Jose - you'll make loads of friends.

elf

If you have a heaf test done (little needles intradermally) if you have had a BCG you will test positive. if it is grade 1-2 then that is OK 3-4(which will be very red and angry), you will have to have a chest x-ray done, which if you have an embassy medical you will have anyway. You can get false positive results with a heaf test but a chest x-ray will confirm if you are ok. Having said all that I only had mine done for my facility because I am a nurse I didnt need it for the Embassy. They do a basic medical Chest x-ray and bloods for HIV and syphilis (bummer if you are Henry VIII).
Hope that helps

Wintersong

Thanks for the info I intend to, ultimately, end up teaching over in CA and I believe I have to have all the tests and everything done, so I'll gird my loins for some x-rays! Do they not routinely vaccinate against TB over there?

John_O

So are there any Brit social groups in Tampa ? I'm up for a pint

elf

Hello Wintersong,

I looked this site up for you which is very informative.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/tb/pubs/tb...ets/250120.htm

Elf

Wintersong

That's really great

Thanks a lot for your time!

CaliforniaBride

I'm in Cal and I volunteer at our local school. I have to have a negative TB test as does everyone in the school. I haven't been asked for Hep B but the kids have to have that along with Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio, MMR and Pertussis. Pertussis isn't available in the UK, though (it's for chickenpox).

Bob

Yeah, don't see the need for that one myself...just somin' you get, and over and done with isn't it...

CaliforniaBride

Mostly, but it can be quite serious. Better to have it young they say. I had mine when I was 16 and it really knocked me out. I had them everywhere (and I mean everywhere) and I was quite ill with it. My little cousin who had given it to me was outside playing with all the other pox kids in the street while I was lain up in bed for a week. The little buggers were fine.

Bob

Hehe...yeah, I know about that, I had it at 5, weren't bad, had little chicken pox parties *l*

honeymommy

Pertussis vaccine is for whooping cough and is available in the UK for children, who are most at risk.

As for the BCG vaccine.... If you have had it there is a possibility you can test possitive when having the heaf test, but not all people do.

honeymommy

My brother got chicken pox as an adult and ended up in intensive care, with bacterial pneumonia. It can be very dangerous later in life.

The medical term for chicken pox is varicella by the way...

Typical nurse here... LOL

Bob

Yeah, I know that, somin' similar to the father inlaw...but that's why we had the parties as a kid, so we would all get it over and done with, good idea or not, don't know, but we did, couple days off school at least

and that's what varicella is...thought it was...