Wednesday 1/9/04 I returned to work after a long weekend off to

find most of YCH in a blind panic.

Why?

One positive case of TB. My phone was on melt down and people, mostly fellow nurse were almost hysterical because they couldn't get hold of me.

After many hours between then and now, spent trying to alleviate peoples concerns whilst trying to establish direct contacts with this poor patient who by now felt like some form of leper.

Finally calm has been restored.

It wasn't until now that I had realized how much fear there was for this condition. The fear was mainly from middle aged people most of whom had never come in contact with the condition so it seemed a bit extreme to me. Elderly patients who had first hand experience of it took it in their stride.

I think this highlighted how complacent we all become when we think a disease has been eradicated. We have no coping mechanisms in place to deal with such things and also people want others to deal with it for them.

TB is a terrible disease but very treatible today. The problem arises when patients do not take the medication, for what ever reason, and the "bug" become resistant. Then we are really in trouble as it mutates and healthy people then become at risk.

As a specialist nurse have several people with TB in my case load and I never worry about cross infection. Perhaps this has lead me to be a bit blase and so other colleagues reactions have taken me a back a bit.

On reflection, after long discussions with staff and public I feel that lack of knowledge has led to this panic.

I have subsequently arranged several open discussion sessions for staff and lay folk to attend to be given correct research based information and education which will hopefully allay there fears.

Hopefully I will return next Monday to a calmer lace of work.

Petula