PTB MINIMAL

[lb10c4r135]

I have previously been diagnosed with PTB minimal and also finished 6mos medication 8 years ago and was cleared already. During medication and up to now, I gained weight to about 20kgs and I think as a whole my health improved and I seldom get sick (cough, colds, etc.). I just have a few concerns though..

1. Does the scar or fibrosis does not go away? It still come up on my chest xrays, meaning same location description, etc.
2. Do I need to do apico xray regularly to make sure it is not active? Sputum tests as well?
3. If so, what is the required frequency of doing it?
4. Being a person with history, am I prone to PTB recurrence or not?

Need your advise on this.. thanks a lot!

[lb10c4r135]

thanks Doc.

I did go for restesting-sputum, apico, pft and chest ctscan). All came negative and shows fibrosis with no interval change.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, if you taken a complete course of antituberculous therapy and if you are healthy and symptom free now, its unlikely that you will get the infection again. But tuberculous infections are known for recurrence. There is no hard and fast rule for this, its likely to start with clinical symptoms first, like loss of appetite, weight loss, low grade fever and a general feeling of unwellness. If you experience any symptoms go for retesting. And tuberculosis heals by fibrosis, and it will not disappear nor will it progress either, so dont worry. Take care.