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]

[VanIslander]

let's not confuse the uncommon TB with the common bronchitis

I've had a bronchial infection three times over five years here

[Harpeau]

Some people get exposed to TB and then get prophylaxis (taking pills for 7 months or so). It covers the TB and you end up never dying of it.

Others get infected with TB and that can be very nasty!! In North Korea it is rampant. I guess they need to especially check the NORK refugees for it.

[ttompatz]

[MissSeoul]