Home > Ailments > Tuberculosis > Tuberculosis Q&A > Family member exposed to tuberculosis
Family member exposed to tuberculosisPosted By Lejo (Miami, Fl) on 12/06/2011
Replied by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 12/07/2011
Replied by Oscar (Syracuse, New York, Usa) on 12/08/2011
Of course if you develope an active infection that is something quite different and there are treatments available if that occurs. But once exposed to TB you will always be a carrier, you will always test positive with that skin test.
There is no point in obsessing about it, or worrying about it. Like I said, most carriers never develop the disease. Just do what you can to maintain good health and a strong immune system and you should be fine. There is substantial evidence that BHT [ buylated hydroxytoluene ] can help maintain a strong immune system. I base that statement on this here article published in the journal PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS: http://physrev.physiology.org/content/87/4/1175.full#B._Antioxidant_Defenses
And you will see from this here table that BHT is by far the best of the anti-oxidants when it comes to extending average lifetime expectancies: http://physrev.physiology.org/content/87/4/1175/T3.expansion.html
So, there is nothing to be gained by freaking out about testing positive for TB and if you want to take something to help maintain a strong immune system, based on that PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS article: BHT is the best of the anti-oxidants to help you do so. I am a TB carrier and have been for over 50 years now. I would say one 350mg capsule per day is about right for most average sized adults for maintaining a strong immune system. Some people do report negative reactions to BHT, though most do not....Oscar