PPD Archives - Mommy Pehpot

As you all know, I have been busy worrying for my kids health. Last week, two of them had fever for three days. The pedia suspected that they maybe suffering from primary complex. She advised us to have PPD (purified protein derivative) or tuberculin skin test. It is a test administered to skin to determine if someone has developed an immune response to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. In simple language, if you have the bacteria that cause TB in your body, your immune system will react to it. The antibodies produce to fight off that bacteria will react with PPD. As it is PPD comes from the same bacteria that causes tuberculosis. The skin where the PPD is injected will develop some rashes 48 to 72 hours after injecting. The rashes that was formed is measured by millimeter. Here in the Philippines a measurement of 10 mm and higher is considered to be positive with tuberculosis bacteria. Primary complex is a form of TB on kids.

It is not that we don’t trust the doctors in our area, but you know, we just have to ask for a second opinion. Our real pedia, the one that we really trust is a twenty minute minus traffic drive two hour drive from us. He has been the kid’s pedia since they were born but distance wise, we rely on him on severe cases such as this. For emergencies, of course, we have to take whatever the nearest hospital has to offer. And so we scheduled a visit on him. On the same day that we are scheduled for a check up, Kayil woke us up (in the middle of the night or around dawn) screaming, yes, screaming, that his stomach is in real pain. I soothe him with a massage but morning that day, he seems to be in real (more real) pain. We brought him to the nearest hospital and yeah live with what they have to offer.LOL. It was kinda shocking because the doctor suspected that his appendix is about to rapture or so. It was really shocking, not just kinda, to think about it. Imagine my 5 year old would be under the knife! We are not even thinking about the cost, just the emotional and physical effect it could have to Kayil. My husband could not believe it and suspected that the doctor was a bit overacting. I told him maybe the doc had an experience with appendicitis rapture before. I think that doctors are somewhat subjective on their diagnostics to their patients. Not that they rely on their past experiences but I think it influence a bit. It turns out that the doc’s nephew or niece had an appendectomy before. What is more funny or amusing was the doc discussing with us our options when Kayil have to undergo appendectomy. He even recommended a hospital for it! It turns out that it was just dyspepsia.

Back on track. Sunday afternoon, after that appendectomy incident, we went to Doc G, our pedia, the real one. He also suspects Primary complex and so advised us to have PPD. I think it was a good decision to have our PPD with him rather than the one from the hospital. For one, he was the official PPD reader in the whole CAMANAVA area, which means he is an expert on this case. And he gave us a discount.LOL. We were advised to watch out for the reaction and bring the kids back on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the tests are positive, all three of them! Can you just imagine that? And before you start panicking, Primary complex is not contagious. Primary complex is a form of TB on kids, on which the kids got it from an ADULT SUFFERING FROM TB. Now here comes the hardest part of it all. Doc G says we need to pinpoint the SOURCE. I am being paranoid guys. Who among us has TB? I have been thinking of ALL the people my kids encountered for the last 10 months. It can be my mother, my mother in law, my sisters, my in laws, my friends, my visitors. It can be anyone. It can be us too. Hubby and I have to take PPD test too. Who among you gave TB to my kids?LOL

As for the kids having primary complex, although it takes a lot of medication and not to mention money, I am somewhat relieved. The kids are not gaining weight for a time now, and so it was obvious that what causes them not to gain weight is primary complex. They have to take in three kinds of meds every morning. That can be a battle especially for Mico who hates meds. I am confident though that we can win this battle. I tell you guys the really hard part is knowing where and who gave them that shit. The doc says that even if the kids got better and well, if the same person had contact with them again, it will hit them again. Argh.. I told you it’s the hardest part..

If I am not here most of the time, I am busy being paranoid.LOL. Got to check with my mom now..