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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Sputum Test Necessary To Check The Recurrance Of TB?

I have a friend who was treated for TB for many months, was in isolation in a hospital, etc. She was diagnosed by a sputum test. I don't think the other tests showed anything. That treatment ended about a year ago.

She has recently developed a horrible, horrible cough. I have asked new doctor to check her for a recurrence of TB. He's done a chest X-ray but no sputum test.

How do I get him to take this seriously?
Wed, 30 Jul 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
Your friend was a tubercular patient and she was treated for it for 1 year back.
Recently she developed a horrible cough and you want to know recurrence of TUBERCULOSIS .
Yes , you are right every treated tubercular patient should be examined for SPUTUM for A F B whenever they have cough or fever (> 4-5 days duration )any disease not responding to simple treatment .
In your friend case she was having very horrible cough and this is an indication for sputum for A F B examination in already treated case of PTB.
Indication for sputum for A F B :
Perform sputum smears at the end of the 2nd month as a b are minimum.
Repeat during 5th months & in the 6th & 8th month regime.
So take it seriously and get in sputum examination.
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Is Sputum Test Necessary To Check The Recurrance Of TB?

Hello Your friend was a tubercular patient and she was treated for it for 1 year back. Recently she developed a horrible cough and you want to know recurrence of TUBERCULOSIS . Yes , you are right every treated tubercular patient should be examined for SPUTUM for A F B whenever they have cough or fever ( 4-5 days duration )any disease not responding to simple treatment . In your friend case she was having very horrible cough and this is an indication for sputum for A F B examination in already treated case of PTB. Indication for sputum for A F B : Perform sputum smears at the end of the 2nd month as a b are minimum. Repeat during 5th months & in the 6th & 8th month regime. So take it seriously and get in sputum examination.