Mother of preschool student diagnosed with active tuberculosis
The mother of a preschool student in the Desert Sands Unified School District has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis and the Riverside County Department of Public Health is working with the school district to identify others who may have been exposed.
Officials aren’t identifying the parent or the school her child goes to because of confidentiality concerns.
There are no indications that tuberculosis has spread to students, staff or other parents, but health officials are encouraging TB testing for those who might have had limited exposure. A letter is being sent home to parents who have been identified as being at-risk of TB exposure, or whose children might have been in contact with the ill parent, according to the release.
Staff members who may have been exposed are also receiving letters from the school district.
As a precaution, the health department recommends that anyone who receives the letter be screened with a TB skin test at a clinic which is scheduled later in May. Anyone who receives the letter can also be seen by their own doctor. Officials didn’t specify exactly when the clinic will take place but more information should be included in the letter.
Those who don’t receive a letter aren’t considered to be at-risk for TB exposure.
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, with the Riverside County Department of Health, said that although the risk isn’t high, there is some risk of transmission and testing can provide parents with peace of mind.
The well-being of our students, staff, and family members remains the top priority for Desert Sands Unified School District, said district spokeswoman Mary Perry. Staff and parents have been assured that all precautions have been taken and are encouraged to participate in the testing clinic, she said.
Health officials said tuberculosis is a disease spread by close prolonged contact with an individual who has active tuberculosis. People can become infected by breathing air exhaled by someone who is sick with active TB. Left untreated, TB can result in serious complications.
Common Symptoms of TB:
Productive cough
Unexplained weight loss
Fever
Feeling tired
Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. A person with inactive (latent) TB cannot spread the bacteria to others and being exposed to TB does not make a person contagious, according to the health department.
Anyone concerned about TB can contact their health care provider or the Public Health Department Disease Control at 951-358-5107.
