Question on TB Test & medication

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drkamath

Registered Users (C)
I was reading Nell02's medical RFE & realised something...

I underwent the medical tests/immunizations that are required under I-693 for I485...

I tested positive for the TB test (skin test - PPD), with the "reactive bump" on my skin measuring 20 mm. The doctor took a XRay & it was negative for TB.

The doctor specified TB as Negative, but also prescribed 300mg dosage of a tablet called INH for the next 9 months !!! That is on the I693 as well...

The doctor acknowledged that persons with BCG vaccination taken during their childhood could test positive for such tests and he also told me that I neednt take the medicine if I dont wish to - most asians do test positive. He, however, advised that if anyone asks I should say that I *am* taking the medicine.

I couldnt understand this - if a person can test positive cos of previous vaccination, but if they test negative on XRay, why they should take any medication. The questions I have is this -

* What is INS guidelines in such matter? Can I ignore the prescription, given the circumstances? Will I possibly get an RFE?
* If I ignore the prescription, what implications does that have on my GC? Can INS reject my GC application?
* If yes, what steps can I take to ensure I dont dose myself with unwanted drugs!!

Any one else with such an experience?? What should I do?
 
do't take the medicine and keep the copy of medicine and say u took it. Its weired way of US medical science that they do't want to acknowledge BCG. and if someone tells u tell them u already took. After the BCG shot there's o way in this world to say that its a TB with ur skin reaction. and Xray will confirm that u do't have. thats the only way to confirm negative TB but even that american Medical bord wants you to take medication just to be double sure. This medicine has side affets on ur lever so unless ur Xray is +ve do't take it. If u go with other medical board in this world like british medical system / french /indian they will never say the way way they say here .
 
It is quite strange!

I don't think there is a need for medicine in this case!
Anyway, it would be wise go to your family practitioner and discuss about it.

If your X-ray is normal and is indicated on Medical report, I don't think they'll send an RFE. For my child, the doctor weived TB test since the parents are normal, but may not have indicated in I-693 that time.
 
I was in the same boat like you...so this might help you...

According to INS health guidelines(which is derived from US public health guidelines), you are supposed to take INH for 6 months(and recently they changed it to 9 months) if you tested positive for skin test though your X-ray might be negative. Most of the INS physicians don't care about INH medication if your X-ray is normal. But a very few(like yours and mine) strictly follow the guidelines set by INS and they also mention about the prescription in the medical(I-693)form under "Remarks". For me, he wrote "prescribed INH for 6 months. No further treatment needed".

There was a posting in this forum about an RFE issued to show a proof of completing INH medication. I tried to get more info from that person but he never replied or posted further about his medical RFE. However I(and also another colleague like me) got it approved without an RFE. Like others mentioned there are serious side effects. I started taking it initially and had to stop 'cause of side effects.

To answer your questions
1. Yes from the past posting there's a possibility of getting an RFE.
2. If there's an RFE and you don't respond or give satisfactory info, your application will be denied and it's true for any RFE.
3. Say if you do receive an RFE to prove the completion of your medication....you could be prepared to respond without taking the medication by doing one of the following:

* Take refills for 9 months and at the end of it get a letter from your doctor(PCP) that you have completed your medication. I don't think they can find out anyway if you actually took it or threw it away. Also document copy of all your prescriptions.

* If your doctor(PCP) is friendly, see if he/she can give a letter saying it's not recommended for you. But I seriously doubt if anyone would do it in this country. It didn't work with my doctor though.
 
yeh thats what i hate about doctors . Will like to do what they are taught in medical borads and think they are right.

Every one just Ask them one question next time before going for skin test if you have a BCG shot.

Can they prove if the reaction is cause of actual TB or BCG vaccine if the Xray is negative. They can't then go for XRAY only not the skin test.

Given a Time i can write a full Journal on this issue . I had lots of problems with my kid while school admission and ended up with fights with American Lung association , california medical borad and California school bord , finally they acnowledged . You just have to be lil hard and stubborn on this issue before taking unnessary medication to harm your self. Unless ur Xray is +ve you should never take that medication.
 
We were advised by our friends not to go for skin test asyou have taken BCG it will be positive. So when our doctor asked for skin test we told her to do the X-RAY and she did. It did cast little extra money but thanks god I do not have to fall in all these kind of problems.

skin test of my kid was negative
 
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