Ppd Test

[bebe127]

Not sure if this falls under this particular forum, but I have a question. I'll try to make this short.

I took my teenage dd in for dr. visit with her pediatrician. She has of late been complaining of "not feeling well". She had been dx back in the summer with low iron and was put on an iron supplement which unfortunately, she has not been keeping up with consistantly. The dr. of course expressed the need for my dd to keep up with the iron supplement, which we will now be doing to the best of our ability.

I also expressed to the dr. that my dd's friend has/had Epstein Barr and could that be the reason for her not feeling well also. The dr. told me that my dd had Epstein Barr sometime back in 2010 although the test showed that it was not active at the time of the test. Therefore, my dd must have had Epstein Barr sometime before this time (I have no reccolection of her ever being dx with this).

At any rate, I was diagnosed with POTS back in 2009 and am always concerned that my children might get it, as I see so many times on this and other sites that it can run in families. I however, do not know exactly how, why or when I "got" POTS as no dr. has ever suggested any reason for it or any real prognosis. I expressed this to the pediatrician as a concern to me.

The dr. later called me at home and told me as she was entering notes on my dd visit she noticed that my dd hasn't had a PPD test (the skin test for TB) done in quite some time. I remember as young children my kids getting this test, but it has been a while since they've gotten it as of late. The dr. told me that since I was diagnosed with POTS, my daughter should have this test. DD is scheduled for a follow up on bloodwork done (at this last visit) and a physical as well including the PPD test.

My question is...is why would the doctor say "because of [my] dx with POTS", she should have this PPD test done? Is there some coorelation between the two? I guess I should've questioned the dr. on the phone, but didn't. I will bring this up at our next visit. Just wanted some input from you all.

Thanks in advance for any input,

P.S. my dd also has heart murmurs (VSD and PFO) I will be taking her to her cardiologist soon for her routine check and sonogram.

[Canadiangirl73]

Hi, I think the doctor is confusing POTS and Pott's disease, which is TB that affects the spine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pott_disease Maybe it would be worth giving them a call back to clarify you have dysautonomia.

[bebe127]

Thanks Canadiangirl, I did tell the Dr. that I had Dysautonomia in the form of POTS. I did not however clarify that my POTS is Postural Orthostatic Tachy Syndrome (even though I did prelude it with Dysautonomia). Thanks a bunch though, I will definately bring this up when we go back in!

[sue1234]

Hmmm. My kids are in the 20-25 range, and they've never had the PPD test. Is it something that most other kids have had?

[bebe127]

Sue, my kids always had it done when they went in for shots during their elementary years. My kids are teens now and I don't remember if it was a yearly thing or a one time thing. The test consists of the dr. injecting a small amount of liquid right under the skin, then you wait and go back in a day or two to get it checked to see if there was a reaction. With my children, I'm guessing it was just all part of the regular immunizations/physicals and such. I have always known the test as "the TB skin test".

[Katybug]

Bebe,

The other disease, Potts, is associated with tuberculosis. So its great that the doc called to follow up but it is worrisome in that she is obviously unfamiliar with our type of POTS. So if you feel like your daughter does have some form of dysautonomia you may want to seek out a specialist for her. Also, your daughter may have contracted and be a carrier of EBV without ever having seemed sick from it. That's not that unusual. Hope she feels better soon.

[bebe127]

Did speak with the Dr. this evening. Canadiangirl and Katybug, she did think I was referring to Potts and, yes it was a bit disconcerting that she didn't "get" the dysautonomia part. Yes, I did a bit of educating there! Not too worried about the EBV at this point since dd had this years ago, even though I don't recall it (that part I am worried about! although I can't remember what I had for breakfast, so not too surprised). She will still have the Ppd test just because it is routine. Katybug, I don't think she has any disautonomia (I guess I was just initially concerned), but I will be taking her in the next few months for her regular Cardio visit and I will mention it to her Dr. then. As I stated, she has low iron and I really thinkk that is the culprit. Now if I can just get her to take her iron supplement daily; you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make her drink!! She is, by the way feeling a bit better...thank you:)