Parents and students at Thomas A. Edison Middle School in the Dallas Independent School District are awaiting the results of tuberculosis tests after a student showed symptoms for the disease, which can be fatal.
150 people at the school were tested.
Dr. Cedric Spak of North Texas Infectious Diseases Consultants, says those who had prolonged exposure to the student in question will most likely first be tested.
"Not the kid across the street, or even in another classroom," he added.
Parents showing up to the school Tuesday had many questions.
"It was scary, I was like, 'What TB? When they find this? How did this happen?',"said April Johnson, mother of a 5th grader. Her son was not tested but still she was concerned.
Carmen Cardona, said her son was not tested either.
"I was kind of scared because I thought they would test the whole school, turns out only certain kids," said Cardona. "I'm going to take him anyways; I'm going to have him tested at the clinic."
Dr. Spak says it is not a bad idea. He points to what took place at Ennis High School. In 2011, more than 200 students had positive skin tests for the disease after a teacher was diagnosed with the bacterial infection before the start of school.
"It's reasonable, if it's not being offered at health department, based on their studies for it to be done by a local physician," said Dr. Spak.
