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Is It Normal To Catch Cold Easily Despite Being On Treatment For TB?
Question: Hi..
I have been on tb treatment for more than a week now about 11 days...i was diagnosed with tb as i tested positive with ppd test and i was hospitalized cause of 12 days fever...i didnt know i had pleurisy but at the hospital i underwent thoracentesis...the fluid was about 800ml and they succeeded getting 700ml...at first they saw pneumonia and they treated it but then the doc diagnosed tb cuz of the pleural fluid test and my skin test...as soon as i came out of the hospital i started my medication...i never failed to take them every morning before breakfast until now...i no longer have fever but i still feel tired easily and sometimes i still feel some kind of pressure on my lung...no pneumothorax occured in my xray...is this normal to still feel tired easily after 11 days of treatment? And just today im haaaving common cold symptoms stuffy nose and sneezing...is it normal for a tb pataient to catch a cold? Apart from that i have no other symptoms...just headache caused by the stuffy nose...my appetite is also fine...
I have been on tb treatment for more than a week now about 11 days...i was diagnosed with tb as i tested positive with ppd test and i was hospitalized cause of 12 days fever...i didnt know i had pleurisy but at the hospital i underwent thoracentesis...the fluid was about 800ml and they succeeded getting 700ml...at first they saw pneumonia and they treated it but then the doc diagnosed tb cuz of the pleural fluid test and my skin test...as soon as i came out of the hospital i started my medication...i never failed to take them every morning before breakfast until now...i no longer have fever but i still feel tired easily and sometimes i still feel some kind of pressure on my lung...no pneumothorax occured in my xray...is this normal to still feel tired easily after 11 days of treatment? And just today im haaaving common cold symptoms stuffy nose and sneezing...is it normal for a tb pataient to catch a cold? Apart from that i have no other symptoms...just headache caused by the stuffy nose...my appetite is also fine...
Brief Answer:
it's too soon for substantial improvement...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
most patients usually feel better after 2-3 weeks of adhering to an effective treatment regimen, so it's a little soon to feel absolutely perfect right now. Don't forget that you also had pleurisy, which is an additional burden to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Regarding viral infections: of course they are possible. The drugs you're taking are effective only against bacteria. The viral diseases are still possible and cannot be prevented with your regimen.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
it's too soon for substantial improvement...
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
most patients usually feel better after 2-3 weeks of adhering to an effective treatment regimen, so it's a little soon to feel absolutely perfect right now. Don't forget that you also had pleurisy, which is an additional burden to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Regarding viral infections: of course they are possible. The drugs you're taking are effective only against bacteria. The viral diseases are still possible and cannot be prevented with your regimen.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
hello...thank you for the answer...it eased my paranoia over this illness because i was already worried i might not recover...anyway...i have another concern...with this illness, can i drink cold water, coffee and coca cola? my appetite for food is really fine but sometimes im scared to eat or drink something as they might worsen my illness...i only know i csnt drink alcohol and its easy for me cuz i dont drink alcoholic drinks...and another thing: since i got this illness i isolate myself in my room upstairs and i open the windows and let sunshine in for myself...if someone comes in the room i tell them to wear a mask...i know that my family should also be tested since i got this active disease...but i just want to still be sure im not gonna give them more bacteria before they are tested..and sometimes i cannot help but go downstairs for a while but in doing so i wear a mask and i keep the duration of my stay there short asap...is it okay is it somehow safe to just wear a mask around them?
Brief Answer:
you can eat anything... wait until a negative sputum culture
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
You can eat or drink anything. Alcohol is excluded of course...
Regarding contact with your family, I would advise you to avoid close contact at least until you've got a negative sputum culture result in your hands.
Wearing masks (all of you) will help. Adequate ventilation is of paramount importance. Sneezing or coughing may release many mycobacteria in the air.
Kind Regards!
you can eat anything... wait until a negative sputum culture
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
You can eat or drink anything. Alcohol is excluded of course...
Regarding contact with your family, I would advise you to avoid close contact at least until you've got a negative sputum culture result in your hands.
Wearing masks (all of you) will help. Adequate ventilation is of paramount importance. Sneezing or coughing may release many mycobacteria in the air.
Kind 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
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