I have just been told that my first sputum test has tested positive for TB. I am waiting for my second sputum test to be done. My chest xray is clear. My blood test is clear too. I have been coughing with phlegm for the past 2 months. It all started as a cold. I am now very scared that I have given it to my husband and 6 year old. If I start treatment, can anyone tell me what it would be? I have read of quarantine and feeling really ill from the strong meds. Would I have to be quarantined? Would I not be able to travel for Christmas (we bought plane tickets to go see my in laws). I never thought this could happen to me. I am just so lost now...

I am just on edge waiting to see my 2nd results and consultation on friday...

This post has been edited by MagicCauldroness: Nov 7 2018, 04:56 PM

What is the result of the 2ns test? You'll be fine with early detection and treatment. I understand if the diagnosis is positive you'll need to be quarantined (staying away from people) for at least 2 -3 weeks while receiving treatment. Your husband and child will need to undergo check up too for prevention.

TB is treatable and not life threatening if treated early, hope everything will be fine for you

Thank you for replying. They told me that the results will only be out on Monday. So I have to survive the weekend somehow...

I hope it isnt some scary strain that is resistant. By quarantined, does that mean that I need to stay in the hospital or my kid and husband have to go live somewhere else? Both my husband and kid went to request the Mantoux test today but they said it is a bit too early. To wait for my results first...

Thank you Titantt for your good wishes. I do hope it will be treated early and I wont suffer liver damage or go blind or deaf. Horror stories all around...

You said it started with a cold? At what stage did you suspect TB? Cold is very common. Do you have high fever? What colour is your phlegm? Why did doctor suspect TB?

This post has been edited by aspartame: Nov 8 2018, 09:36 PM

Yes it started with a runny nose, just like all the other times when I get my sinus infection... 10 days later, the cough started. My nose is still runny. Nose and cough with yellow mucus. I tried to let my immune system fight the cold as I didint want antibiotics again. After 5 weeks, I went to see my ENT doctor who gave me antibiotics. After 1 course of antibiotics, it was a bit better but I was still coughing. So they sent me to Pulmonary specialist who took an x ray of my lungs and blood test for infection. My x ray was clear and blood showed no infection. So my ENT and pulmonary doctor decided it was my nose allergy causing bronchitis and gave me allergy treatment. 5 days later, I was still coughing yellow mucus and went back to my ENT who ordered the 1st sputum test. They wanted to see which antibiotics can kill this infection. Instead, they found it was positive for TB. So this is how it all started. Now they need 2nd and 3rd sputum test to confirm TB.

I never had a fever or any other TB symptoms. Just the runny nose and coughing... now, I hardly cough much. Only a little in the morning. More post nasal drip from my nose irritating my throat. But if I am in a very cold room where the air cond is strong, then I start coughing.

This post has been edited by MagicCauldroness: Nov 8 2018, 10:11 PM

Wow...yours is just flu triggering coughing and very often phlegm from coughing is yellow in colour. Many people just toughed it out and like in your case, the coughing stops or gets lesser (any phlegm at this stage?).. they would assume all is fine. And, u do not have high fever or chills? How the hell do we know it is TB right? I mean, not many people even do chest x ray and blood test and even these are negative ..

When you did your sputum test, is your phlegm yellow or clear? Any blood? Do you have pain in the chest? Do you feel lack of appetite or lose weight? I read up all these symptoms. I am just trying to see how u get diagnosed with TB from an apparent cold...

And, if you seldom cough now , and presumably no more phlegm from lungs, how do they do 2nd or 3 rd sputum test???

This post has been edited by aspartame: Nov 8 2018, 10:33 PM

Exactly, that is why I was so shocked when they told me it was positive for tb. When I got the phone call, I was in the middle of throwing a children's party! I still have energy to do that.

I am still eating well. I only lost appetite after the call! I am still very overweight!

I turn on the air cond in my car that makes me cough a bit and then got some phlegm. My sputum is mostly clear with some yellow bits now. No fever, no pain, no blood, no chills, no sweat. Only 1 night I sweated but I think because it was hot, I turned on the fan and I could sleep again.

That is what makes me think, everyone foes the same like me and cough cough cough then get better. But maybe tb positive n don't know. So end up spreadingvit around???

Best of luck for today's second test. Keep us updated please. I was wondering, if u had just toughened it out, which most people do after antibiotics ( if they even see the dr)... by now, your coughs have cleared... u r having no other symptoms .... I dun think u will suddenly do a Sputum test and find that u have TB right? Even if the GP suspects something , the most he will order x ray , which is clear in your case. I doubt gp will order blood test (even that is negative !) ... how on earth do ppl find out? I see so many people walking around with some sort of coughing with phlegm... including me.. should we go for sputum test????

One question : when u were coughing badly, was the phlegm coughed out from lungs very thick and yellow in colour or just clear phlegm with slight yellowish colour? If u did not feel feverish , how do u know u had flu? Could it be that u had nasal allergy (runny nose) that coincides with the onset of TB?

This post has been edited by aspartame: Nov 9 2018, 08:56 AM

Important thing is :
What is genexpert result?

When I was coughing badly, it was yellow sputum. Now, I still have some yellow sputum but much less compared to last week. And I still have yellow mucus coming from my nose, even today. So I really don't know what kind of infection I have really! If they really confirm TB, then it must be TB plus something else because my nose is still discharging yellow stuff and my ears sometimes still have a bit of dulled hearing.

They postponed my doctor appointment to Monday. They said sputum results wont be ready until Monday. I only submitted my third sample today. I will go crazy this weekend just thinking about this

Is this the one that tests whether it is a mycobacterium of tuberculosis or not? I was told that sputum test only says mycobacterium or not. Does not say which mycobacterium. A molecular test is needed to confirm it is mycobacterium tuberculosis. However I read that non-tuberculosis mycobacterium are even harder to treat! Really just want to cry! How did my simple sinusitis turn into such an ugly infection????

Lel.

You don’t even know what you are tested on ? Come on.

There are many many test in relation to Tb with each their own pro and con.

Mantoux test
Sputum afb
Genexpert
Sputum culture
X-ray
Ct scan

When you say blood test it can mean nothing if no specific test is ordered for Tb.

As far as I read up...

Mantoux test - for Malaysians who mostly had BCG, not reliable as tend to give false positives
Sputum AFB - accurate but only 30% give positive reading
Genexpert - reliability not 100%
sputum culture - accurate but takes time up to 12 weeks to confirm
X-ray - can detect by not conclusive..used in conjunction with other methods
CT scan - same as x ray but clearer?
QuantiFERON Gold test - used in conjunction with Mantoux test to rule out false positive

My blood test was just a simple blood test to test for infection. No one suspected TB at that time. It was after my round of antibiotics for my sinusitis and the doctors wanted to know if I still had an infection.

I had a Mantoux test done when I was 16 as a standard test in high school. As I had BCG, it was positive which warranted me to go to the hospital to get x rayed. I was cleared then. I have been told by my doctors that the Mantoux test will always be positive if we have BCG.

I am now getting my 2nd and 3rd sputum afb done.

Hence, my question on Genexpert. Is it the molecular test that is done when you have your sputum afb tested positive for mycobacterium?

Yes, my sputum is being cultured.

X-ray is clear

CT Scan not done yet.

Any updates TS?

Well usually primary care in Malaysia will diagnose PTB with mantoux+CXR+sputum microscopic examination and culture sensitivity along with history suggestive of TB(chronic cough, hemoptysis, fever, night sweat, loss of appetite, loss of weight). 2 out of 3 of the above tests are require to diagnose. By the way mycobacterium TB will take 4-6weeks to obtain positive culture..

If you’re diagnosed with TB, first line drug in Malaysia will be in terms of antibiotic which consists of 2months of isoniazid,rifampicin,pyrazinamide, ethambutol and 4months of isoniazid, rifampicin. Sound like hell lot of drugs but there is combination tablets out there in the pharmacy.

As for your close contact, if they did Mantoux test and result positive they are considered as latent TB(inactive form) which also require them to receive 3 months isoniazid, rifampicin or 6months of isoniazid alone.

Hopefully it helps

P/S: Final year medical student

This post has been edited by DrSoul: Nov 17 2018, 04:37 PM

Hi i hope you doing well now.
Your topic is from last year November, if 6 months treatment.
I assuming you back to normal and healthy life now, if yes, congrats to you.

I am Mantoux positive, CXR positive, smear AFB positive patient.
Currently undergoing treatment, almost 3rd month.
For the past months, I'm going to skip what symptomps I had suffered... but now, I'm dealing with skin allergy.
Facial nerve problem, skin pale, skin rashes, flushing, peeling, dry, itchiness, burn.
Irritates me from the seconds I'm awake until I'm back to sleep... everyday
Wanna ask during your TB treatment, any adverse effect on you?

How has the treatment been working for you?

Can you please share with us what are your TB symptoms before undergoing treatment?

And where do you contracted TB from?

Any form of chronic cough for more than 2 month will be screened for PTB. Constitutional symptoms such as loss of weight/appetite, coughing blood may or may not be experienced.