Dear all,

My grandma was diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB).

Is anyone know which specialist is good in Klang Valley and not so expensive?

Thank you.

This post has been edited by sRae: Mar 27 2015, 10:41 PM

attack lung?

Yea, based on chest x-ray. She went to see a specialist for chest x-ray, sinuses x-ray, sputum and lung tests. From the x-ray, family historical medical condition and dr experience, the dr diagnosed she got TB. Then asked for further blood, urine tests. Those reports out next week.

She has been coughing up blood recently and fatigue but no fever, loss weight (instead gained weight), appetite, sweating, pain in chest etc.

So we plan to take second opinion. Dr gave some TB medicines. Should start the medication or wait all reports out first?

This post has been edited by sRae: Mar 27 2015, 10:55 PM

Any govt clinic will deal with TB. 6 month long treatment with rifampicin and 2 other antibiotics depending where you go. FOC, but they will want to watch her take her meds every day.

Who did the diagnosis? Via CXR or Mantoux?

Take so many test for what? You only need the Mantoux test. The others are just a waste of time and money.

Where are you located?

Thanks for your advice.

A chest specialist. She diagnosed TB based on chest x-ray. Today only do injection for "tuberculin ppd 2tu/ 0.1ml 1.5ml". Reading next Monday. Is it Mantoux?

Thanks for your advice.

No sure why need so many tests. It cost around RM1000+ to see the specialist, tests and medicines in just one visit. Although not all reports out yet, the dr ald asked to take TB medicines (AKuriT-4 and Pyridoxine tablet) and she warned the side effects.

We stay near Jln Ipoh, KL.



This post has been edited by sRae: Mar 27 2015, 11:19 PM

You're not too far from IPR, Inst Perubatan Resp which is funny enough, the old TB center. Go there, give the mantoux results (PPD is a protein derivative tuberculin which is injected under the dermis and should give an induration of 5 or more mm).

Everything is free for TB in the govt setting. No need to spend so much. How old is Popo? Whatever it is....the course must be taken deligently every day until the Dr. says she is cleared. Along the way, sputum sample will also be taken.

She is 83 years old. Thanks again.

And all family members must be tested.....unfortunately.

You are right. We will do testing next week.

You just need to pay RM5 per consultation for all those tests to diagnose TB in govt hospitals.

How can the doctor just assume it's TB based on the chest x-ray alone?

Although TB is common in Malaysia but there are many other lung infections that mimic TB symptoms and the x-ray image.

It's best not to start the TB medications yet. Once you start it, you can't stop it for fun.

Wait first for the Mantoux reading next Monday and the sputum results and blood test results as well.

This post has been edited by Blofeld: Mar 29 2015, 01:28 AM

Is your grandmother being treated by a chest physician ?

You can't diagnose TB from a chest x-ray alone.

The tuberculin test isn't very accurate either and tends to give
many false positive results, especially in adults who have had the BCG.

More specific tests like Quantiferon and T-Spot are available, but not
sure which local labs have it.

http://www.moh.gov.my/index.php/database_s...ownload/347/216


What is her ESR ?

An ESR reading of over 30 mm/hr for her age would mean that she
is likely having an active infection.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003638.htm


One blood test which can be done is the CA-125, the ovarian cancer
marker, which will give a high reading in active TB. It can be used to
monitor your grandma's response to the medication over time. The
value will go down with treatment.

The test costs about $50 and can be done at any local lab.

A value of more than 32 to 35 iu/ml usually means that the TB is still active.

http://benthamopen.com/FULLTEXT/TORMJ-3-123



As the others say, if you wish free treatment, then take your grandma
to the government TB center in Jalan Pahang, just next to Tawakal
medical center.

Otherwise, you may try my former schoolmate, Dr Yap Boon Hung,
chest physician in Tung Shin hospital. He is quite experienced and
has treated many TB cases over the years.




This post has been edited by Tham: Mar 29 2015, 11:04 AM

Thanks for your advice.

Yea, we also doubt because it's just based on chest x-ray. Report from lung function test stated moderate restriction, no significant bronchodil. Other test results not yet out.

Last Friday was our first visit/ consultation with the chest specialist. When we arrived, the nurse asked to go do the chest x-ray, lung function test and sputum test. After done all these tests, we went to see the specialist for consultation. She asked questions about how long been coughing, how much blood been cough up, family historical medical background etc. She also performed some physical examination (press here and there), measuring blood pressure. She diagnosed as TB and explained about the medication for 6-9 months and what are the side effects briefly. When we asked her "Is it confirmed TB?". She replied "Yes, based on x-ray, what you said and my years of experience" something like that. She added the sputum test might show negative as sometimes cannot find the TB germ inside. She asked to do further blood test, urine test, two more sputum tests for AFB (this Sat and Sun morning must come and send to lab which we did), prescribed the TB medication for one week and injection (Mantoux test). The first sputum before consultation would be tested for TB culture. She asked we came back next Monday (tomorrow) for follow-up the reading and test results.


This post has been edited by sRae: Mar 29 2015, 03:46 PM

Thanks for your advice and recommendation.

Yes, we went to see the chest specialist. Not sure what's the ESR yet as we just did the blood test after consultation last Friday.

Thanks for your advice and suggestion.

We will bring her to another hospital after getting the results tomorrow.

Recently I had been diagnosed with TB, I had cough once and only once which found some blood in the mucus.
then i went on to do x-ray, doctor said suspects is TB. So I went to instituion respiracy near Jln Pahang..then they do mantoux test
for me result is 9mm size and my mucus sample return negative, doctors still advised my to take medicine

Did you do an x-ray?

Is there an induration for that 9mm?

or just redness of the skin of 9mm?

yes i did x-ray, doctor straight away said is TB,
a bump appeared around 9mm
I don't have any symptoms of TB, except for little night sweat.
doctor still ask me to eat antibiotic

So, you have night sweats. That is highly indicative of TB.

Night sweats means heavy drenching in sweats that will soak your bed as if someone just pour a pail of water on you.

Are you drenched in sweats and your bedsheet soaked with your sweat? Or just normal night sweat due to weather?

Anyway, usually doctors will say above 10mm is considered positive.

But if you are still doubtful, you can go for additional test elsewhere such as the QTB Blood Test.

I think not so serious until bedsheet soaked with my sweat, it just my cloth wet.
maybe the weather. when i deep breath i feel pain on my right chest, other than that
i had no other symtom of tb...I had done a few blood test but return negative.
now I already start taking antibiotic anyway, not sure whether is the right decision.

Since you already started it, then you have to continue. Don't simply stop taking it.

Since you have the symptoms, then you have to accept it as TB.

And don't go around talking to ppl to avoid spreading to others. Even talking and laughing could spread to others.

Those are normal blood test, it cannot detect TB. What I meant is the Quantiferon TB blood test.

not much choice for me now, have to finish it in six-month.

Yup, no choice.

Anyway, do you feel weak walking around? Or have you come across any TB patients in the past?

no i'm not feeling weak, I dun know who had TB around me...
I dont have any cough as well

I remember reading Tham (another user) said that she had TB but without any cough symptoms.

that's kind of weird.