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Q: TB scars and tuberculosis transmission
asked by: DoctorQuestion on May 5th, 2009
Can i still work in the hospital even though i have TB scar?
Can i go abroad despite of my condition?
Is there any way to remove TB scar?


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Dr. Goce Aleksovski , MD
replied on May 9th, 2009
Tuberculosis Answer A6559


Assuming that by "TB scar" you mean a scar from the BCG vaccine, the following can be told: A small, raised, red spot normally develops at the site of the injection within 2-6 weeks. This grows for a few weeks, widening into a circle up to 7mm in diameter with scaling, crusting and occasional bruising. The crusting is the one that causes the scar. So, in the end, the BCG scar means that you have been given the vaccine and are protected from tuberculosis and from potentially spreading it.


However, if by "TB scar" you mean a scar tissue detected in the lungs by an x-ray as a result of a previous tuberculosis infection, then the infection must be treated before you are allowed to work in a hospital in order to prevent further transmission.


If you had a previous tuberculosis infection, it is only up to the legislative procedure in the country where you want to work in a hospital or in the country where you want to go abroad, whether you are allowed to because the tuberculosis might stay dormant for a longer period of time and then appear again when the immune system weakens.




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