RE: TB/anecdotal evidence

From:Nick Bullough

Hi Mike,

I'm only in my early 30's and was given BCG at school along with all my
fellow pupils, so BCG was still in use about 15 years ago and still is
today. In urban centres in the UK we have a major problem with immigrants
from the Indian subcontinent coming in to the country infected with TB and
passing it on to non-immunised people.

Best regards

Nick

Nick Bullough BSc(Hons) AIBMS
Scientist
Bioresources
Pharmagene plc
2 Orchard Road
Royston
Herts SG8 5HD
UK

nick.bullough@pharmagene.com


-----Original Message-----
From: MTitford@aol.com [mailto:MTitford@aol.com]
Sent: 18 October 2002 14:24
To: Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
Subject: TB/anecdotal evidence


I would like to add my two bits worth to the TB discussion. Anecdotal
evidence is supposed to have no place in science, but here goes!
  TB is endemic here along the Gulf of Mexico coast. In the last year we
have had two "outbreaks" of TB exposures.One was a foriegn student who died
suddenly of TB and exposed other students. The second a local commercial
fisherman who exposed others in his community. The health department is
still working on the second case.
   In the college case, the local health department skin tested everyone who
had been exposed. Those who were positive were X-rayed.(All at no cost).
Just about everyone who had positive skin tests had negative X-rays. Those
who were negative but were still worried because of exposure were offered
the long course of medication.
 I get the impression that many convert for one reason or another, but few
get the disease, because our standard of living is so much better now that
when TB was a menace years ago.
  People who grew up in England in the 50's may have been given BCG, a type
of immunization against TB which I think is no longer given. BCG gives you
an automatic positive PPD which can put unknowing health care workers in a
frenzy if they are unfamilier with BCG.

Mike Titford
Pathology
USA Medical Center
Mobile AL USA


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