Kids at risk after inner Sydney school tuberculosis scare

Screening is underway on staff and students at an inner city Sydney primary school who have potentially been exposed to tuberculosis.

Screening is underway on staff and students at an inner city Sydney primary school who have potentially been exposed to tuberculosis, after a positive case sparked urgent investigations by health authorities.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District confirmed to The Daily Telegraph it was contacting staff and parents of children who attend out of school care at Crown Street Primary School after a person recently diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis visited the service.

In a statement to parents and caregivers, SESLHD said children who attend the school would be offered a Tuberculin Skin Test on school grounds to screen for potential exposure to the disease.

“In line with NSW Health guidelines, onsite screening for potential exposure to TB will be offered to children who attend OHSC (out of school care) at Crown Street Public School,” the statement read.

Alert... A person recently diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis visited the building.

“It is recommended that your child have a Tuberculin Skin Test to screen for possible exposure to TB. This is a small injection into the forearm, similar to an allergy skin test, which is then measured and assessed two to three days later.

“Screening is conducted in two phases - an initial or baseline test, which is usually repeated 10 weeks later.

“All positive test results will be referred for a chest x-ray and then reviewed by a specialist TB physician.”

A spokeswoman for the SESLHD said specialist TB nurses were currently compiling information to diagnose close contacts of the case.

“There is no ongoing risk to children and staff at Crown Street Primary School, including the Out of School Hours Care Program,” a spokeswoman for SESLHD said.

“TB is not readily spread from person to person and any spread is usually only after prolonged exposure. The risk of infection having spread to staff and children is very low.”

Crown Street Public School in Darlinghurst is on alert after a positive case of TB visited the site.

About 600 active TB cases are diagnosed in NSW every year.

A tuberculin skin test, which is a small injection into the forearm, similar to an allergy skin test, will be used to screen children for possible infection.

Symptoms can include a cough that lasts for more than three weeks, fevers, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, constant tiredness, loss of appetite, or blood-stained sputum.

SESLHD said specialist TB staff will speak directly with parents to provide information, answer questions, arrange testing and assessment and further follow up if required.