Question about International Travel for my Father

[zent30]

Hello,

I had asked you a question about my father's chronic cough in Sept 2011. Your answer provided me much needed relief . (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Asthma-and-Allergy/My-Fathers-Intractable-Cough/show/1591005#post_7227753)

Your conclusion after reading through the CT-Scan findings were:
The abnormal findings in the RUL, on the April 2009 and the 2011 scans are of a type commonly referred to as chronic residual (from a prior infection or inflammatory process) disease.

My father has recovered well  from this cough and is fine as of Oct 2011. I am writing this message due to the following reason:

My father is 74 years old and lives alone in India. He will be leaving India on Jan 20 to arrive at US on Jan 21. He will board his flight from Mumbai. His total wait time in Mumbai is about 5 hours. I read about 12 cases of totally drug resistant TB in Mumbai today:

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-tb-totally-drug-resistant-india-20120116,0,4582749.story

Two questions:

a) Having had a chronic cough condition during Aug -Oct 2011 and recovered,  would you recommend he postpone his trip to the US?

b)If the answer to a) is a NO, what precautions shlould my father take at the airport?

Thank you!
Zent

[zent30]

Hello Dr.Tinkelman,

I cannot thank you enough!!

Regards,
Zent

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

My answer to your first question is NO, your father should not delay his trip.  If he is "fine" as you state, then what happened in the past is of no consequence and would not predispose him to contracting a totally resistant form of TB in Mumbai.  Also the likelihood of contracting TB or any respiratory disease would be greatly diminished were he to wear a simple paper mask of the time that is often provided in emergency rooms or hospitals when a patient there is known to have a potentially contagious respiratory disease of any type.  TB put aside for a moment, wearing such a mask on a long flight where the air may not recircuate well, might be a good idea for anyone.

I wearing a mask would be embarrassing for your father, he might want to wear it only if in close proximity to anyone who is repeatedly coughing or sneezing.  As far as non-TB  bacteriaor viruses, frequent had washing is a good preventive measure.

I suspect that your father will be fine.

Good luck