Posted on 12/05/2002 8:47:30 AM PST by gubamyster
By STEPHANIE NANO
Associated Press Writer
December 5, 2002, 1:22 AM EST
Screening and treating immigrants from developing countries for dormant tuberculosis infections would prevent thousands of cases and save tens of millions of dollars, a study shows.
While the number of TB cases in the United States has been dropping, immigrants account for a growing proportion of them. There were nearly 16,000 U.S. cases last year and about half were in foreign-born residents, up from 27 percent a decade earlier.
Potential immigrants now get a chest X-ray to detect active TB, and those who are sick are required to get treatment. The Institute of Medicine has recommended a skin test for inactive, or latent, infections also be given to those from countries where TB is common.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
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