How has CDC revised the tuberculosis (TB) Technical Instructions for children age 10 and younger?
Now children aged 10 and younger with a positive TB skin test can travel as long as other TB tests do not suggest that they are likely to spread the disease to others. All immigrants and refugees applying for a U.S. immigrant visa must complete a medical exam. This exam includes screening for TB. If an applicant has a positive TB skin test, a chest x-ray and three sputum samples are taken to do further testing. Sputum samples are used in smear and culture tests, which are very useful in detecting TB. Although, smear tests can be done quickly, cultures take 6-8 weeks before results are final. Immigrant applicants over age 10 cannot travel to the United States until these culture results are ready. But, for children age 10 and younger, the process is now slightly different. Typically, young children are not infectious (able to spread TB). However, even in young children, if certain factors are present care should be taken to decrease the risk of spreading TB to others. Therefore, childre
