Exposure to a "TB Reactive" person

[botrel4]

I inject Humira weekly. I often spend time with my cousin who mentioned in conversation that she had a positive reaction to her TB test. She was told to take medication, but declined to follow through. First of all, I know that a positive reaction to TB testing is common and that it doesn't mean she is contagious. But I also know, I can't be sure she doesn't have it either. My question is: if I were to contract it, how does it affect someone taking Humira?

 

[xmdmom]

TB can be very serious for people on biologics. People on Humira who get tb may have active tuberculosis and frequently present with disseminated or extrapulmonary disease.

The important thing to find out is if your cousin has latent or active TB. It's likely that it's latent, given that she's not taking medication but it's important to know for sure. People with latent TB are not infectious but are at risk to develop active TB in the future.

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/ltbiandactivetb.htm
may be helpful and you should tell your doctor/nurse of this possible exposure.