Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Pulmonary TB And Meningitis
Question:
I am speaking about my mother who is aged 54 years. Last XXXXXXX 2014 she was diagnosed with Extra-pulmonary TB due to enlargement of Left armpit lymphnodes. Her fever started from 12th May 2014. She was diagnosed on 23/6/2014. She was also complaining about severe headache. Tests were carried out and TB Meningitis was proved. She started with the first line of drugs consisting of
Isoniazid-300mg
Rifampicin-450mg
Pyrazinamide
Ethambuto-1000mg
She continued Ethambutol till November 2014 when suddenly she complained of blurriness and also Green Colour blindness(to slight extent) and was diagnosed Retrobulbar Neuritis. Ethambutol was discontinued at once followed by Isoniazid within one week. MRI was carried out which confirmed the same but of very low intensity.
Right now the colour issue has disappeared but still she is suffering from blurry vision. Her eye is perfect and fundus of eye is perfect as confirmed by two ophthalmologists.
Is there any chance she can get her clear vision back? She is suffering from diabetes mellitus but it almost remains close to the normal level. Right now she is only having rifamcin and ofloxacin. All other medicines are stopped.
I am speaking about my mother who is aged 54 years. Last XXXXXXX 2014 she was diagnosed with Extra-pulmonary TB due to enlargement of Left armpit lymphnodes. Her fever started from 12th May 2014. She was diagnosed on 23/6/2014. She was also complaining about severe headache. Tests were carried out and TB Meningitis was proved. She started with the first line of drugs consisting of
Isoniazid-300mg
Rifampicin-450mg
Pyrazinamide
Ethambuto-1000mg
She continued Ethambutol till November 2014 when suddenly she complained of blurriness and also Green Colour blindness(to slight extent) and was diagnosed Retrobulbar Neuritis. Ethambutol was discontinued at once followed by Isoniazid within one week. MRI was carried out which confirmed the same but of very low intensity.
Right now the colour issue has disappeared but still she is suffering from blurry vision. Her eye is perfect and fundus of eye is perfect as confirmed by two ophthalmologists.
Is there any chance she can get her clear vision back? She is suffering from diabetes mellitus but it almost remains close to the normal level. Right now she is only having rifamcin and ofloxacin. All other medicines are stopped.
Brief Answer:
Wait for few more months.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Greeting from Dr. Divakara.P
First of all thanks for choosing Healthcaremagic for posting your query.
Colour blindness and retro bulbar neuritis are known side effects of Ethambutol .
These side effects may persist for few months even after stopping Ethambutol . Most of the cases , these side effects goes off without causing any permanent damage. So my advise is to wait for few more months and these vision problem shall be alright.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask .
Regards.
Wait for few more months.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Greeting from Dr. Divakara.P
First of all thanks for choosing Healthcaremagic for posting your query.
Colour blindness and retro bulbar neuritis are known side effects of Ethambutol .
These side effects may persist for few months even after stopping Ethambutol . Most of the cases , these side effects goes off without causing any permanent damage. So my advise is to wait for few more months and these vision problem shall be alright.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask .
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor,
Is there any chance of permanent damage. She has slightly improved over last two months. Also a very XXXXXXX opthalmologist in XXXXXXX has provided her with steroid injections to her left eye. But it did not improve much. We are really worried about her as she becomes depressed.
Thanks and Regards,
XXXX
Is there any chance of permanent damage. She has slightly improved over last two months. Also a very XXXXXXX opthalmologist in XXXXXXX has provided her with steroid injections to her left eye. But it did not improve much. We are really worried about her as she becomes depressed.
Thanks and Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Chance of permanent damage is there but very less.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for the follow up .
There are certain cases of permanent damage due to Ethambutol use. But most of the time the side effect is reversible after stooping the drug.
More over there is nothing much that can be done to correct the visual problem. We just have to wait and hope it gets corrected by itself.
In the mean time make sure that her sugars are controlled well and any other medicine that has a possible side effect on her eyes has to be avoided.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask .
Regards.
Chance of permanent damage is there but very less.
Detailed Answer:
HI
Thanks for the follow up .
There are certain cases of permanent damage due to Ethambutol use. But most of the time the side effect is reversible after stooping the drug.
More over there is nothing much that can be done to correct the visual problem. We just have to wait and hope it gets corrected by itself.
In the mean time make sure that her sugars are controlled well and any other medicine that has a possible side effect on her eyes has to be avoided.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarifications feel free to ask .
Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
