How is it diagnosed?
Because TB can affect any part of your body, it is known as "The great imitator".
The detection of this disease is difficult, and even more in children, there for it is required to have experts for the diagnosis and treatment. For a diagnosis, the patient need to have an x-ray of the lungs and give samples of phlegm for three days for cultures and smears. Although other supporting tests exist, the culture is the one who gives us the definitive diagnosis, but a negative result does not rule out the disease.
Although culture is the "gold standard" to confirm TB, diagnosis of this disease can also be sustained only with the symptoms and signs in the patient, history of contact with tuberculosis patients and the fact of residing in places where there are a large number of cases of this disease.
Is tuberculosis curable?
Of course TB is curable! Fortunately there are medicines that cures it.
It is important to know that treatment for tuberculosis is different from other infections. The treatment consists basically of four drugs and you should take it for at least six months if is not a serious illness. Otherwise the treatment can be extended from nine to twelve months (depending if the treatment is started on time). If you abandon the treatment, or simply do not take it as the health staff indicates, the bacillus that causes TB can become resistant and then you would have to take medication for at least two years. These medicines are not easily available and have mayor adverse effects to your body. But the worst of this situations is that the disease may become incurable even cause death.
A PERSON WITH UNTREATED ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS CAN INFECT AN AVERAGE OF 10-15 PEOPLE PER YEAR.
Frequently asked questions about Tuberculosis
In which applicants will this disease be sought?
- In patients over 15 years of age who have a suggestive image of this disease on their chest radiograph.
- In applicants of any age who have signs and symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis.
- In applicants of any age who have a history of recent and close contact with patients with tuberculosis.
- In applicants of any age with a history of having suffered from tuberculosis.
- In applicants of any age who accompany another in whom tuberculosis was diagnosed during their medical exam; Tuberculin or IGRA tests should be performed and if the result is positive (depending on which test was performed), the chest x-ray will be taken, and if this study shows images suggestive of tuberculosis, the exams will also be performed corresponding to confirm or rule out the disease.
Are children under 2 to 14 years old undergo chest x-ray?
Only in children of this age group who had a positive Tuberculin or IGRA test (depending on which test was performed) will the chest x-ray be taken and if it has images suggestive of tuberculosis, the corresponding examinations will also be done to confirm or rule out this disease.
What happens if during my medical exam I have a suspected condition for pulmonary tuberculosis?
You will have to go to our laboratory and deliver a daily sample of your phlegm for three consecutive days to perform studies that confirm or rule out the disease. In children who cannot expel phlegm (mainly under 5 years old), the test will be done in gastric juice.
Remember that if you go to your medical exam on Monday, phlegm samples will be taken on Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday. If you go on a Tuesday, the samples will be taken Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Take into account that if you go to the medical exam on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, the samples will be taken on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week.
Remember that if you go to your medical exam on Monday, phlegm samples will be taken on Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday. If you go on a Tuesday, the samples will be taken Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Take into account that if you go to the medical exam on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, the samples will be taken on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week.
What are the tests to confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis?
The only test that confirms the diagnosis of tuberculosis is the culture of phlegm . Even with a negative culture, tuberculosis can also be diagnosed through other alternatives, such as when the patient has signs and symptoms of this disease, or through other supporting laboratory tests.
They say this lab test is not 100% safe, that the tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) can give false positives
As we discussed in the previous paragraph, culture is the only test that confirms the diagnosis of tuberculosis and is a safe test. The tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) does not influence the outcome of this analysis.
The tuberculin test (PPD) that is applied to the applicant's forearm is that the tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) can influence the outcome, sometimes giving false positives. However, there are people with a history of having this vaccine and the PPD can be negative. In addition, with this test the diagnosis is not confirmed, it only helps to show us people who had contact with the causal germ of the disease (mycobacteria).
The tuberculin test (PPD) that is applied to the applicant's forearm is that the tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) can influence the outcome, sometimes giving false positives. However, there are people with a history of having this vaccine and the PPD can be negative. In addition, with this test the diagnosis is not confirmed, it only helps to show us people who had contact with the causal germ of the disease (mycobacteria).
Family and friends say they only send us to phlegm exams to charge us one more amount
Tuberculosis diagnostic tests are completely FREE, you will not have to pay anything at all. In reality, this process is beneficial for the applicant, since the images that doctors find on the chest x-ray are not normal, and, in addition to tuberculosis, can be suggestive of other diseases.
They tell me that, in order to move forward in the process, I can have tuberculosis tests in my place of origin
Any X-ray or laboratory test performed at a Center not authorized or certified by the United States government, IS NOT VALID. The only laboratory approved and certified by the United States government to perform tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis is the one that processes the samples of applicants from authorized clinics, such as Servicios Médicos de la Frontera, which It is located in Ciudad Juarez.
Also, remember that these exams are FREE for our applicants, so doing them in another laboratory will be an unnecessary expense.
Also, remember that these exams are FREE for our applicants, so doing them in another laboratory will be an unnecessary expense.
After leaving the phlegm samples will I continue with the migration process?
The NEGATIVE result of the culture means that you do not have the disease and this is reported up to 8 weeks after the phlegm samples are delivered. This means that the immigration process will continue until this period of time passes. We will send the NEGATIVE result to the consulate along with the rest of the medical exam requirements. After receiving the complete medical exam, the consulate staff will contact you to reschedule your interview.
A POSITIVE result means that if you have the disease and this, it can be presented within the period of 8 weeks after the results are delivered. phlegm samples. In this case, we will contact you to explain the steps to follow.
A POSITIVE result means that if you have the disease and this, it can be presented within the period of 8 weeks after the results are delivered. phlegm samples. In this case, we will contact you to explain the steps to follow.
And what do I have to do if my tuberculosis test is positive?
You will have to receive and finish a treatment. At the end of the treatment, new cultures will be taken, and, if these are negative (after two months after the phlegm samples were received), that will be the proof of your healing, so with that result you can continue with Your immigration process.
And how long does the treatment last?
he treatment time will depend on the clinical, laboratory and X-ray characteristics of each patient. For example: If the drug sensitivity test shows us that the causal germ (mycobacteria) is sensitive to all antituberculosis drugs and the disease is not considered serious both clinically and radiographically, the period will be 6 months, as long as during treatment signs and symptoms are improved and monthly control phlegm cultures are negative until the end of treatment.
Treatment can be up to 24 months, if the causal germ (mycobacteria) is resistant to several antituberculosis drugs (resistant multi-drug tuberculosis).
Treatment can be up to 24 months, if the causal germ (mycobacteria) is resistant to several antituberculosis drugs (resistant multi-drug tuberculosis).
Can children with suspected tuberculosis also not continue with their immigration process?
Children under 10 years of age who require samples of phlegm (or gastric juice if applicable) to confirm or rule out tuberculosis may continue with their immigration process, as long as NONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS EXIST:
- Positive phlegm smear.
- Chest x-ray with the presence of one or more caverns or with images suggestive of extensive disease.
- Presence of respiratory symptoms (for example, intense cough with phlegm, among others).
- Known contact with a person with resistant multidrug tuberculosis.
And where should I receive the treatment?
The treatment must be carried out in Mexican territory. You have two options:
1.- In a treatment center authorized by the United States government. In Mexico, Servicios Médicos de la Frontera has the Center for Diagnosis and Comprehensive Treatment of Tuberculosis, the only medical unit in our country authorized by the United States government to treat tuberculosis. If you decide to receive your treatment at our Center, you can continue with your immigration process in less time.
Example:
Example:
1.- In a treatment center authorized by the United States government. In Mexico, Servicios Médicos de la Frontera has the Center for Diagnosis and Comprehensive Treatment of Tuberculosis, the only medical unit in our country authorized by the United States government to treat tuberculosis. If you decide to receive your treatment at our Center, you can continue with your immigration process in less time.
Example:
- Treatment Start Date: January 1, 2023.
- Treatment time: 6 months.
- End date of treatment: July 1, 2023.
- New medical exam (including smears and phlegm cultures): as of July 2, 2023.
- Delivery of the result of the NEGATIVE phlegm test: September 2, 2023. From this date you can continue with your immigration process.
- IMPORTANT: Dates may vary, depending on the time of treatment.
Example:
- Treatment Start Date: January 1, 2023.
- Treatment time: 6 months.
- End date of treatment: July 1, 2023.
- New medical exam (including smears and phlegm cultures): as of July 2, 2024.
- Delivery of the result of the NEGATIVE phlegm test: September 2, 2024. From this date you can continue with your immigration process.
- IMPORTANT: Dates may vary, depending on the time of treatment.
Does the treatment have any cost?
The treatment is comprehensive and completely free, including all medical assessments and all necessary control exams during the duration of the treatment.
In addition, Servicios Médicos de la Frontera offers free food and lodging only to patients who performed their medical examin our clinic.
Servicios Médicos de la Frontera has a multidisciplinary medical team expert in the management of this disease.
Remember that we are at your service for any questions or clarification, whether in relation to tuberculosis or any other matter of your medical exam for the immigration process.
For us, Your health is the most important thing!
In addition, Servicios Médicos de la Frontera offers free food and lodging only to patients who performed their medical examin our clinic.
Servicios Médicos de la Frontera has a multidisciplinary medical team expert in the management of this disease.
Take into account that, by detecting and curing a disease that you did not know about, it means an investment of life (not a waste of time), whose treatment also does not entail any cost for you and your family ...
Remember that we are at your service for any questions or clarification, whether in relation to tuberculosis or any other matter of your medical exam for the immigration process.
For us, Your health is the most important thing!