Ask The Pure Air Control Services Doctor

Dr. J.M. King, Allergist/Immunologist and Dr. Ambuj Kumar, MD, MPH work with Pure Air Control Services to resolve complex Indoor Environmental Quality cases.  Now we open the forum for two of Pure Air’s finest to answer your toughest questions.
Send questions to: VAhuja@PureAirControls.com

Question from Juline: Can one be tested positive for tuberculosis
but not have the symptoms?

Answer from Dr. Kumar: Yes. This kind of TB is called Latent TB and Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) mans the person has the TB germ in their body (usually lungs), but has yet to develop obvious symptoms.

In latent TB, the person has a significant reaction to the Mantoux skin test with no symptoms of tuberculosis, and no TB organisms found in the sputum. Tuberculosis disease indicates the person has symptoms, a significant reaction to a Mantoux skin test and organisms found in the sputum.

In order to spread the TB germs, a person must have TB disease. Having latent TB infection is not enough to spread the germ. Tuberculosis may last for a lifetime as an infection, never developing into disease. But it can be treated.

If you have a question for the medical experts at Pure Air Control Services, (Dr. J.M King, Allergist/Immunologist or Dr. Ambuj Kumar MD, MPH), please send your question to: Vahuja@PureAirControls.com.