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Whether TB Medication (Rifafour) Can Cause Serious Macular Problems?
I am an optometrist and my patient has mentioned that she had meningitis. Further questioning only confused me as she mentioned that she went to a hospital that works with TB patients. So, I do not know if she had cryptococcal meningitis or bacterial meningitis or if she had TB meningitis. However, i will try to get more information in this regard. My question is whether TB medication (Rifafour) can cause serious macular problems leading to VA of light perception or worse that 6/60?
Fri, 28 Mar 2014
Hello
It seems from the history that your patient has taken tubercular medication for some time for treatment of tubercular meningitis or other similar condition.
Anti-tubercular medications are known to cause macular edema and macular degeneration. Hence patients on these drugs should undergo examination of macula before starting the treatment and also undergo regular follow up examinations at frequent intervals to find out the cause and stop treatment.
Hence I advice to refer her to a ophthalmologist for examination and treatment accordingly.
Thank you
It seems from the history that your patient has taken tubercular medication for some time for treatment of tubercular meningitis or other similar condition.
Anti-tubercular medications are known to cause macular edema and macular degeneration. Hence patients on these drugs should undergo examination of macula before starting the treatment and also undergo regular follow up examinations at frequent intervals to find out the cause and stop treatment.
Hence I advice to refer her to a ophthalmologist for examination and treatment accordingly.
Thank you
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