TB questions

[Optimistical 0]

Hi,

I've read over some TB threads and it seems like quite an ordeal, both the test and the treatment. My wife has a persistent cough. I guess it's not TB but in any case I'd like to get more educated about TB.

Is the sputum test a reliable way to check for TB? Is it free to the visa applicant?

If the sputum test is positive, is the treatment administered only by St Luke's? Why does the treatment have to be in Manila and not in another major RP city?

Would it be worthwhile to take the sputum test now and start treatment separate from the interview process if it's negative since we might be 4 or 5 months away from an interview? That would get us a head start and save us many months of treatment later?

I know there is probably no TB involved but just want to educated myself about the facts if anyone knows about this topic. I read a post here that says a 4 month treatment is a new approach but somehow I only expect the worst from medicine in RP so I guess they'll use the old 9 month treatment.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/basics/treatment/con-20021761

Thanks

[VOL 425]

I will let the others weigh in on all the other questions.

I had my girl do a chest xray to see if she had any indication of TB. That way we could start treatment early in the visa process.

Xray was negative on TB

[Optimistical 0]

Thanks VOL. I've heard/read that the treatment can only be administered in Manila. I'm just wondering if they'd accept an early treatment beginning outside of Manila. I've also heard/read that the x-ray is very inconclusive and the sputum test is really the test that is effective for screening.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Hi,

I've read over some TB threads and it seems like quite an ordeal, both the test and the treatment. My wife has a persistent cough. I guess it's not TB but in any case I'd like to get more educated about TB.

Is the sputum test a reliable way to check for TB? Yes very reliable. Is it free to the visa applicant? Yes no additional fees.

If the sputum test is positive, is the treatment administered only by St Luke's? Yes. Why does the treatment have to be in Manila and not in another major RP city? USEM and CDC require that the treatment is done in a controlled environment and there for she is required to show up every day (except weekends) to have her medication administered. This ensures that she will be cured before departing for the US. TB is a disease that can be spread and the person having it and it goes unchecked WILL DIE. This is not something fool around with.

Would it be worthwhile to take the sputum test now and start treatment separate from the interview process if it's negative since we might be 4 or 5 months away from an interview? That would get us a head start and save us many months of treatment later? The answer is directed to a K-1 visa applicant so the answer is geared toward that visa. Having said that, If you take the medical early she could pass and then you don't do the interview for 4-5 months then there is no time to travel to the US before your visa expires. You only have a 6 month window to which to be on US soil. The visa validation is from when you pass your medical and not when the visa is issued. Therefore, you really don't have much of a choice but to take SLEC exam close to the date of your interview.

I know there is probably no TB involved but just want to educated myself about the facts if anyone knows about this topic. I read a post here that says a 4 month treatment is a new approach but somehow I only expect the worst from medicine in RP so I guess they'll use the old 9 month treatment.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/basics/treatment/con-20021761

Thanks

See the following links for more information:

https://onedrive.live.com/edit.aspx/Documents/Immigration?cid=4efbcea193d9d3db&id=documents&wd=target%28St.%20Luke%27s%20Medical%20Center.one%7C2F384E7A-09C4-4994-8246-8B11E9CEA512%2FTB%20Testing%20%26%20Description%7C0A214AC0-272D-456D-A2E4-655493C29EB2%2F%29

onenote:https://d.docs.live.net/4efbcea193d9d3db/Documents/Immigration/St.%20Luke's%20Medical%20Center.one#TB%20Testing%20%20Description&section-id={2F384E7A-09C4-4994-8246-8B11E9CEA512}&page-id={0A214AC0-272D-456D-A2E4-655493C29EB2}&object-id={CBFE53C4-81FA-036A-0BA6-F96A40EDC167}&40

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/522557-fiancee-got-a-call-from-slec-today-only-5-weeks-after-samples-taken/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/464246-fiance-just-said-that-slec-found-her-kids-failed-tb-skin/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/504130-tb-treatment/

http://www.globalhealth.gov/global-health-topics/communicable-diseases/tuberculosis/index.html

Good luck.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Greenbaum

[Optimistical 0]

Thanks Greenbaum but I wasn't able to view those one-drive messages/posts/docs. Can you perhaps email or PM or post them for me?

I think the key question for us if her sputum comes back positive is whether to just start the treatment away from Manila or try to wait and start it in Manila. For the sake of her health I'm inclined to think it's best to just start the treatment and not wait for St Luke's. I'd like to know what that will mean for our Visa process. One of the threads you linked seemed to have someone in that situation (treatment started away from Manila) but I didn't see any resolution of the situation on that thread.

[Greenbaum 12,258]

Thanks Greenbaum but I wasn't able to view those one-drive messages/posts/docs. Can you perhaps email or PM or post them for me?

I think the key question for us if her sputum comes back positive is whether to just start the treatment away from Manila or try to wait and start it in Manila. For the sake of her health I'm inclined to think it's best to just start the treatment and not wait for St Luke's. I'd like to know what that will mean for our Visa process. One of the threads you linked seemed to have someone in that situation (treatment started away from Manila) but I didn't see any resolution of the situation on that thread.

USEM and SLEC will not allow off site treatments. They need to be verified by SLEC that every treatment was administered and taken. You will be wasting time and money if you try and do it outside as they will make you repeat the treatment with SLEC.

I know you want the best for her and that this is a burden but remember if TB is caught early it can be treated. The sooner she is cured (if she does have TB) the sooner you can rest that you saved her life.

[Hank_ 9,173]

Thanks Greenbaum but I wasn't able to view those one-drive messages/posts/docs. Can you perhaps email or PM or post them for me?

I think the key question for us if her sputum comes back positive is whether to just start the treatment away from Manila or try to wait and start it in Manila. For the sake of her health I'm inclined to think it's best to just start the treatment and not wait for St Luke's. I'd like to know what that will mean for our Visa process. One of the threads you linked seemed to have someone in that situation (treatment started away from Manila) but I didn't see any resolution of the situation on that thread.

There is no question regarding when to start DOT (if required), it can only be done at SLEC. Don't start any medication from another doctor. CDC REQUIRES SLEC for DOT (Direct Observation Therapy - meaning the staff at SLEC observe your wife's treatment.)

There are strains of TB that are becoming resistant to the standard meds because people start treatment but do not complete the whole 6 months of medication.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Hank_

[Optimistical 0]

Thanks for the input Hank and Greenbaum. The more I think about TB the more concerned I become. If someone in the family has it then it can just perpetually be transmitted around to people. Even if treated you can just get it again. Wow, crazy disease.

[VOL 425]

Thanks for the input Hank and Greenbaum. The more I think about TB the more concerned I become. If someone in the family has it then it can just perpetually be transmitted around to people. Even if treated you can just get it again. Wow, crazy disease.

We in USA have to live around 20 million illegal aliens that have came from mostly Mexico and never had to do any medical. They serve us food, prepare our foods, and for some reason it ok for them to be in USA.

[Hank_ 9,173]

There are vaccines for preventing getting TB

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/vaccines/