I seem to be having a reaction to my TB skin test?

Welcome to Fluther, @Lilo777. As far as I know, the test is for whether you have been exposed to TB and have produced antibodies, not necessarily whether you have actually contracted tuberculosis. (I tested ‘positive’ for my TB tests, because I had received a TB vaccine as a young child, and the vaccine made my immune system produce antibodies. It did not mean that I had TB!)

I’m also not sure about the false positive rate of this test. Hopefully someone else can tell you about that.

I am a doctor, and you need to report this to yours.

How wide is the raised area? In general I wouldn’t worry about 7 hours, worry about how it looks at 48 hours. Mine is always red because I react to being poked, but by 48 hours I have no raised area.

My Mom always had positive tests, because she had been heavily exposed to TB while she was growing up. The tests would always alarm doctors, but my Mom knew better.
If you are having a reaction, it doesn’t mean you have it for sure.

Redness right after the test does not necessarily mean you have been exposed. Between 48 and 72 hours they are supposed to check for hardness, like a bump in the skin, not just redness. PPD tests cannot really be accurately read by just looking, it should be touched, unless there is absolutely nothingnthere and an obvious negative. However, if the irritation is getting large, you might want to report it to your doctor in case you are having a bad reaction.

If it winds up you are positive for exposure to TB, you should never get the skin test again. You will be positive forever, and it is contraindicated to have the test done, because reactions to the test can get worse and worse over time. You will be required to get a chest xray to make sure you don’t have active lung TB. You can opt to take antibiotics for exposure, it is not required, and the antibiotics are strong, and I think the regimen is 6 months, so it is a big committment. Most doctors won’t even suggest it to you. Two people very close to me chose to take the drugs, many people I knew who worked with me who were positive for exposure never even heard of taking antibiotics for it, and I worked at a behavioral hospital woth doctors all around.

If you actually have active TB you will be required to take antibiotics, and possibly might be monitored in some way for compliance. If you have no cough this is extremely unlikely.

@filmfann Your mom never should have been given the test over and over the doctors are idiots. They should have asked her if she ever had a positive result, and when she answered yes, just do a chest xray.

How does it look today?

I am with @DrBill . . . see your physician to have the test read.

@JLeslie It’s still red, but no longer raised so I’m not too worried. I have it read tomorrow. Thanks for the advice everyone.