TB Control?
I haven’t written about this yet because it has been a touchy subject for people (so I’ve learned) but now that it is pretty much over, for us anyway, I want to share. About 3 weeks ago my Grandmother, who lives in Florida tested positive for Tuberculosis. Chance (the baby) and I just spent four weeks with her around September. The baby had been coughing for a few days and we thought he was getting a cold so when we learned about this on a Friday night we woke up early on Saturday morning and went in to the hospital, Tulane Lakeside, to get tested. We filled out our paperwork and took a seat in the waiting room, a little while later a nurse came out and told us that they do not give TB tests there and that they would have to give us a list of places that do give the test. The list they gave us was a list of charity hospitals in the area. These hospitals and clinics also do not offer the test on weekends. They said if I wanted to admit the baby for his cough they would treat that but still would not give him a TB test.
This is crazy! According to the TB Control Programs website Tuberculosis is transmitted through the air by individuals with contagious TB who are in close contact with others and on the Department of Health website I find that Children, especially babies under 2 years old are a high risk group for contracting TB. Yet even though we fit into these categories perfectly they still decided that sending my sick high risk baby back out into the world with no test or treatment was better for him and for the rest of the people he will come into contact with every day. Does the disease stop on the weekend? Also, is it possible that no regular hospital offers TB tests? We have money and insurance but we receive a list of Charity hospitals and clinics?
Listed in the Tuberculosis Control Manual, which can be found on the TB Control Program’s website are the goals of the great state of Louisiana’s program to control the spread of TB two of those goals are 1. Early detection of latent tuberculosis infection combined with treatment to reduce the risk of developing disease and 2.Preventive treatment of “not infected” high-risk contacts to reduce the risk of infection/disease. Let me tell you what a good job they are doing at these two goals so far (only a hint of sarcasm).
I attempted to contact Mister Carlos Alcantara, our local TB Control Manager but he never returned my calls.
On Monday we went to my doctor and my son’s pediatrician and got our TB tests. They were both appalled that the hospital wouldn’t give us a TB test and did not understand why since the lab is open during the day on the weekends. Turns out Tuberculosis however contagious or deadly that it is, still like most other things that we believe are running smoothly until we have to deal with them, falling through the cracks. It is viewed as a poor mans disease and so no one wants to deal with it We received our test results back and both myself and the baby are negative, however we are giving the baby antibiotics anyway just to be sure since he in so young.
I am adding ‘Tuberculosis Care’ to the long list of things that need work.
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I think I recall hearing that someone in OPP was found to be TB Pos. a few weeks ago. Apparently he was wandering around and living in General Population for some time before it was discovered.
Like you, I assumed that if I suspected I had TB that there’d be a wholesale freak out by the medical community and a determination would be needed immediately.
I guess it just isn’t a big deal. lol
That is incredible. Glad to hear your baby is TB free!
This is, unfortunately, just another example of how badly the physical health care system is broken in New Orleans. The mental health situation is even worse.
Mental Health is bad because I may have TB and I am going crazy trying to figure out.
Just a little laugh.
Rayna, at least you and the baby seem safe.
This is a national problem, not just New Orleans. TB outbreaks are happening in increasing numbers. Anyone remember the guy who flew from England back to the states within the last 6 months? What the hell is going on in this country?
It is a national problem. My Mother (who lives with my grandmother) Can’t get a test either. She does not have insurance right now and no one will even talk to her about getting a test. She is in more risk than I am and she still does not have a test. That is happening in Florida.