Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ddongchipp]

I have known a few teachers in the Daegu area which have come down with tuberculosis. What's the prevalence of TB in Korea. I researched this a little, and found that Korea has a strain or TB that has come about due to the ubiquitous spitting. Anyone w/ any similar experiences?

[I-am-me]

I had symptoms last year that could have been TB. I went to the hospital to have a tb test. All they did was take an x-ray. No TB test. They acted like they never heard of a TB test before. Somehow I got over my sickness after 4 weeks. Two months later I needed a physical and they took an x-ray and called me back in to tell me I might have TB. They took another x-ray and decided I didn't have TB. That is korea medicine at its best.

[Guri Guy]

It's funny. I have posted before on the link between the rampant spitting and tuberculosis. Some Korean apologists told me I was being culturally insensitive.

Hopefully spitting will be recognized for the selfish, disgusting habit that it is. That and saving some people from a torturous death.

[Canuck Teacher]

i caught TB on my last trip through korea. i didnt develop it fully but i had the strain inside me (dont ask me, im not a doctor). i didnt know about it till i got back to canada and failed a TB test that was required by my school board back in Canada. I had to report to the health department in my town and take a series of pills. all better now.

[hubba bubba]

OK, so what is TB, and why is it so bad? It's like the only disease that i can remenber being checked for on a regular basis.

[jaganath69]

Were you people not vaccinated for it when you were younger? I certainly was. Or am I missing something about a new vaccine-resistant strain of the disease?

[Canuck Teacher]

i was vaccinated for it back in canada as a kid like everyone. maybe that is why i was just a carrier and didnt actually contract it. if that makes sense. all i know is that i had the TB strain inside me. I wasnt contageous, i didnt have any symptoms but i had it. and that was enough to delay me working back in Canada till i got rid of it.

[skconqueror]

I had a TB booster b4 coming to Korea a couple years ago.

[OiGirl]

Most people who have ever lived in Korea in their lives will test false-positive or marginal on the *beep* TB test for the rest of their lives. May have had a sub-clinical or latent case, or whatever. The only time I was knowling exposed to TB was with a non-Asian immigrant family I was teaching in the US.

Another reason it's good to keep your vaccinations up-to-date before coming to Korea (if you believe in vaccinations.)

[ttompatz]

[jaganath69]