[MERGED] Tuberculosis

[aliyah012]

follow up lang po... ngayon always nako masakit ang ulo, nanlalabo ang mga mata at nahihilo, lage pa mataas ang bp ko at lage nako kinakabahan... patulong nmn po....

[Bontoe]

Thanks Doc Kram. Doc Kram okay lang po ba uminom ng biogesic, tuseran, neozep, and bio flu. Minsan kasi yun iniinom ko pag feeling ko magkakalagnat at magkakasipon ako, lalu na po ngayon tag ulan, uso ubo't sipon. Tapos doc uminom ako mefenamic acid kanina, dahil 2days nang masakit ngipin ko? Okay lang po ba inumin yung mga gamot na yun while taking anti tb meds? Ano po ba yung mga usual na bawal inumin na gamot while taking anti tb meds, para maiwasan namin. Thanks Doc.

[Medee]

hi doc. ask lang po if side effect din ba yung blurry vision. not sure pero parang medyo nagiging blurry. ano pong gamot if ever? thanks doctors!

[Bontoe]

Thanks Doc Kram. Doc Kram okay lang po ba uminom ng biogesic, tuseran, neozep, and bio flu. Minsan kasi yun iniinom ko pag feeling ko magkakalagnat at magkakasipon ako, lalu na po ngayon tag ulan, uso ubo't sipon. Tapos doc uminom ako mefenamic acid kanina, dahil 2days nang masakit ngipin ko? Okay lang po ba inumin yung mga gamot na yun while taking anti tb meds? Ano po ba yung mga usual na bawal inumin na gamot while taking anti tb meds, para maiwasan namin. Thanks Doc!

[K_r_a_m]

mel2314: In my opinion, if you have findings on your chest x-ray, though it is not the usual presentation, I think you should be screened to be sure that you do not have it. A sputum test will tell us if have asymptomatic PTB or not. It is better to be sure when it comes to PTB. It won't hurt to do a sputum examination.

aliyah012: Having a high blood pressure and diabetes is not linked with PTB. These are separate entities. Have yourself treated for your diseases.

[K_r_a_m]

Bontoe: It is basically okay to take over the counter medicines, but do take precautions. Also, tell your attending physician about it.

Medee: Yes, it may be a side effect of ethambutol. Please do see your physician about it.

[aliyah012]

mel2314: In my opinion, if you have findings on your chest x-ray, though it is not the usual presentation, I think you should be screened to be sure that you do not have it. A sputum test will tell us if have asymptomatic PTB or not. It is better to be sure when it comes to PTB. It won't hurt to do a sputum examination.

aliyah012: Having a high blood pressure and diabetes is not linked with PTB. These are separate entities. Have yourself treated for your diseases.

k_r_a_m: sorry ha? kala ko experto ka when it comes to tb... wrong person

[nicotech]

i need help. in my recent medical exam it says "there are no active parenchymal infiltrates in the visualized lung fields. The pulmonary vessels are within normal limits" ano po ibig sabihin nito?

eto po medical history ko last 2010 the result of my med exam was "ptb of undetermined activity" then i took the prescribed medicine but not religiously. madalas din pumapalya tapos last year ganun padin ptb of undetermined activity then yung latest result released yesterday eto na po ang sinasabi "there are no active parenchymal infiltrates in the visualized lung fields. The pulmonary vessels are within normal limits" ..i need to be enlightened po. thanks

[Bontoe]

follow up lang po... ngayon always nako masakit ang ulo, nanlalabo ang mga mata at nahihilo, lage pa mataas ang bp ko at lage nako kinakabahan... patulong nmn po....

Dumaan din ako sa ganyan. Marami ka talaga mararamdaman pag nagtake ka na anti TB meds. Lahat ng sinabi mo possible side effects ng anti-TB meds pwera yung high blood and laging kinakabahan. Sa tingin ko yung lagi kang kinakabahan, anxiety lang yan or panic attack. Ganyan din kasi ako dati. Konting mali sa nararamdaman ko nagpapanic or kinakabahan kagad ako. Lalo na nung nalaman ko na PTB sakit ko. Okay lang yan. Huwag ka magpanic or kabahan basta importante inumin mo araw araw yung anti TB meds mo, at sure na gagaling ka. Tama rin po ang taong pinagtanungan mo. Mga Doctor po sila Dr. Kram, Dr. Les, and Dr. Marbles. Sila ang nagstart ng forum na to. Everyday ko kasi chinecheck ang forum na to and mga reply nila Doc Kram and Doc Les. Madami ka matutunan sa kanila, basahin mo lang mga reply and posts nila sa mga previous page.

[K_r_a_m]

k_r_a_m: sorry ha? kala ko experto ka when it comes to tb... wrong person

You're right, I'm the wrong person to ask.

[juno22]

hi doc, what do you think about malunggay tea/capsule as health supplement for tb patients because i was told and based on my research it is helpful for many medical conditions including tb.

[issaledesma]

hi doctors and readers.

gusto ko lang sana mag ask ng opinion nyo regarding my situation, A scar was found in my upper left lung and it was caused by TB and now may nodule na daw.

nag apply kasi ako sa isang cruise ship and i passed the series of interviews. bukas i'll be having my medical exam which ofcourse include xray. but last month, nag medical din ako sa other company na napag apply-an ko and the doctor said na my spot ako since last year from my last year xray result caused daw ng tuberculosis and now my nodule na daw. the doctor told me to take fixcom3 for precautionary purposes since i was healed from Tuberculosis without undergoing medication before. last week i visited a pulmonologist tapos my reseta ako ng quadtab and vitamins and scheduled me for another xray next month.

my question is, is it ok na mag xray every month?? i heard daw na harmful ang radiation ng xray.

the previous doctor noted that insignificant na ang TB and "im fit to work" but hindi ako tinanggap ng napagapplyan ko na company last month dahil sa nodule. sa cruise ships ba ganun din ka strict?

it is possible mawala ang nodule na ang size is 1.5x0.9cm with medication?

im worried kasi baka hindi ako makapag trabaho.

[K_r_a_m]

juno22: Malunggay may be helpful but it has not yet been studied fully in a big randomized clinical trial for PTB. More studies must be done to know malunggay's full potential in patients with PTB. It may be taken as a supplement but it is not a drug for cure.

issaledesma: Yes x-rays are harmful, but the benefits outweigh the risks. It is the easiest way to visualize the lung infiltrates and to assess your lung condition. If the nodule is PTB, then the medicines should work and it should cure the infection. Sometimes even after treatment, scars on the lungs develop, making them visible in chest x-rays. But since these are already treated, the patient is not contagious anymore and do usually work and live normally.

[Jude14]

Thankyou Doc K_r_a_m

[wabitoy]

Hi Dr. Kram,

Nakatapos na po ako ng 6 months treatment last 2011 para sa TB for both lungs.
Ngayong nag-annual physical exam kami, meron pa rin pero sa left lung n lang.
Ang inireseta po sa akin ng doctor ay 2 months na fixcom4 pati injection.
Negative naman po resulta ng sputum exam ko pero sabi ng doc ko, kelangan pa rin uminom dahil kitang kita sa xray ko ang cavity sa left lung.

Ano po masasabi niyo dito? Di kaya mas malala pa sa tb ang sakit ko?
Di naman po ako inuubo or nilalagnat.

Maraming salamat po.

[K_r_a_m]

Jude14: You're welcome.
wabitoy: It is difficult to comment on this because your physician has a better view than I have. After 6 months of treatment, one can be considered treated. But, there are instances that one has to extend the usual treatment duration. It would be best to know the activity of the PTB (if it is just a scar or is it still active) before extending the treatment.

[bumblebee_3333]

hello im just new here. Yung x-ray result ko is may spot ibig sabhin ba TB na yun? Hindi pa ako nagpapa consult sa doctor, dahil sa natatakot ako. Pero wala naman po akong nararamdaman na mga sintomas katulad ng pag-ubo, at hindi nilalagnat, normal naman po. Sana po ay matulungan nyo ako.

[K_r_a_m]

^^ A spot in the chest x-ray can vary from PTB to a lung mass to a localized infiltrate. It would depend on the size, location and other factors such as prolonged exposure to a person with PTB. It would be best to seek a physician as soon as possible for further assessment of the spot. Don't be afraid of the findings. I hope I'm wrong but if ever you have PTB, it can be treated with medicines.

[cathsy]

doc.ok lang po ba magpaxray every 6months?thanks

[K_r_a_m]

^^ If it is really needed for monitoring, then it is okay. Some even do it every month for a few months.