If someone was put on isoniazid by the health department, it's probably because they have tuberculosis, right? And if he does not take the pills because of undesirable side effects, are other co-workers and customers at risk? Or should we not be so nosy and mind our own business? Update: It turns out that the coworker has "latent" tuberculosis -- not "active" TB -- and everything I read says latent TB is not contagious. (This is also the reason why the health dept. apparently cannot "force" him to take the isoniazid. They could only do that if he had active TB). I still do not feel completely comfortable with this, because untreated latent TB can eventually turn into active TB and therefore be contagious. But it seems like there is nothing that can be done if he has latent TB and decides not to take the pills. We are a small accounting office (only 6 employees) and we are indeed friends. This is a super-touchy issue but health has to come first. I am the business owner, by the way. I don't know what to do.
Infectious Diseases - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
It depends on whether or not the Iso was prescribed as a preventative (the person is a TB carrier, but does not have an active case) or as a treatment. Many people (especially in the Health Care field) have been exposed to TB in the workplace and will test positive on a TB skin test, though they do not have a live case and are not contagious in any way.
2 :
This is a legitimate concern, and the health department should be notified ASAP. Individuals who stop taking their tuberculosis medication will eventually be caught by the health department during routine followup procedures and be forced to take even stronger medication. In extreme cases, recalcitrant individuals who fail to take their TB medication will eventually be quarantined, but not before they've infected many other people. Response to additional details: Latent TB is not that much of a concern to third parties, which makes me wonder why the health department became involved in the first case. I'd have to do an extensive amount of further research to be sure, but unless your co-worker develops active TB, there's probably nothing that you or anyone else can do to compel him to follow any course of medical treatment. I might add that if a coworker of mine had latent TB, I wouldn't be too worried about it. I would, however, make contact with the health department and keep them apprised of the situation, as your co-worker may not be telling the truth.
3 :
The person does not necessarily HAVE TB. I was exposed to TB many years ago when a fellow worker had active TB. Several months later, I had a positive reaction to the TB skin test. Chest X-rays revealed no sign of TB in me, but I was put on Isoniazid for a year as preventive care. Is it a concern? Yes. If he tested positive, and even if it is not yet active, he could develop the disease without preventive care. To my knowledge, the prophylactic effect is very effective in preventing the TB from becoming active. If he refuses treatment, even if only preventive, he's behaving foolishly. I still have regular chest x-rays, since I will (according to my doctor) always return a positive result on the skin test. Quite frankly, I'd rather take the x-ray than risk contracting active TB
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