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Suggest Tretament For Neck Pain, Weakness And Low Appetite

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Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2015
Question: My wife is 24 years old. She weighs abt 45 kgs with height of 5foot 5 inches. She complained of neck pain, weakness, low appetite

She got diagnosed with pulmonary and multifocal skeletal tuberculosis involving spine with paravertebral access around c2, l2.
Her esr was 98, lymphocyte count 11, platelets 5.2 and Manton negative(post tb drugs usage)

We started 3weeks back with rcin 450, isokin300, patina 1000, combustol 800

For 1st week we also used zerodol. She showed increased appetite and reduction in pain
Post withdrawing above(paracetmol) , we notice fever between 99 and 101 after abt 4hoyrs of taking drugs lasting till 8_10 hours. There is also weakness drowsiness, lot of sleep and preference to lie down


Is this normal response to drugs or any cause to worry
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (18 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Continue paracetamol tablet.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HCM.
I can understand your wife's situation and problem.
She is having severe form of tuberculosis, disseminated tuberculosis.
And in this kind of TB ,along with routine four drug anti TB treatment,patient needs addional levofloxacin or streptomycin. And paracetamol should be continued for atleast 1-2 months.
Another important thing is to rule out multi drug resistant (MDR) TB.
MDR TB is common in disseminated tuberculosis.
Her current symptoms are normal if paracetamol is stopped. So better to continue paracetamol for atleast 1-2 months.
Another important thing I want to ask is
1. MDR TB has been ruled out or not?
2. Is she having sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions,so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 minutes later)
1. Haven't ruled out mdr

2.flam test was ordered but since there was no cough, we couldn't do it.
We thought about taking sample from lung, but they said not too much fluid is there

3.right from the start, our doctor(pulmo) has been suggesting steroids. However, spine doctor dint agree. It was agreed to review it after a month of treatment

4. Weight has been constant or marginal rise since treatment started. Only thing noticed is weakness and sleepiness particularly post drugs. Also doesn't prefer to walk much or sit for a very long time

doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
What was her Chest X Ray findings?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for ypur follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Can you please tell me her chest x ray findings?
Steroids are useful in disseminated tuberculosis. So no harm in giving low dose steroids for 4 weeks.
You have written spinal level C2 and L2?
Is this correct? C2 level means cervical spine involvement. And this is extremely uncommon in TB.
Please reply me answers of above asked questions ,so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Hi Sir,

Uploaded XRAY, CT, Blood Haemogram at start of treatment. Plz go through it. Also have taken mri of entire spine

Xray says-left pleural cavity is obliterated , increased bronchial vascular markings

CT says
destructive lesions involving c6,c7 with preverterbral abcess extending drom c4 to d2
lytic lesion seen involving L1, with paravertebral abcess from d12-L1

centrilobular nodules in tree in bud pattern in both upper lobes, right middle lobe, left lingual with minimal pleural effusion and mediastinal adeopathy
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
She needs additional antibiotics.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the reports you have attached.
She is having active pulmonary tuberculosis. Tree in bud appearance is characteristic of active tuberculosis.
But cervical spine involvement is unlikely in tuberculosis.
Possibility of suppurative infection with anearobic bacteria is also high in her case.
And for this she may need addition antibiotics.
Please let me know
1. Is she taking only TB drugs ?
2. Which other drugs she is taking,like antacids,protein supplements etc?
3. Is this her first infection with tuberculosis?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions,so that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)
Currently she is taking the following in addition to tb drugs

1. Becouseles

2. Shelcal

3. Nuroday h

4.d rise

Apart from this milk with protein ex and high protein diet
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is this her first infection with tuberculosis?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
She is taking appropriate nutritional supplements.
But my concern is regarding need of additional antibiotics.
Please let me know
1. Is this her first episode of TB infection?
2. Is diabetes ruled out in her case?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions ,so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (9 days later)
Sir,

Answer to above questions
1. First episode of tb. Her mother had spine surgery due to tb 3 yrs back
2.No check made for diabetes

Post our discussion,
1. Fever reduced completely
2.her neck pain etc got much better
3.Nausea,vomiting in evening, reduced appetite and sensitivity to smell
We did a LFT and blood test post completing her 1 month treatment
1. Due to high levels of ast/alt, one opinion is to remove rcin,isokin,pyzima and introduce mycloxin and streptomycin injection (prescription attached)


2. Other line is not to stop drugs as she is responding very well. For aiding liver, uniliv 300 mg prescribed 2 times a day

3. Moved treatment from day to night

Post taking Rcin,isokin,pyzina,combutol yesterday morning, today she took all in the evening

1.she had no symptoms in day
Increased energy
2.increased diet
3. After taking rcin at 7.30 pm, checked temperature at 9.30 pm. It was 100 F. At 11.30 it came down to 98
4.craving for food in the nught
5. Took isokin at 9.30,pyzina-10pm, combutol 10.30pm

Extremely scared that she wil develop resistance to first line. That's why resisting changing treatment. If we can manage it for 1 month. Bilirubin levels are changed

Also scared seeing the change today after changing time of drugs.

Attaching all prescriptions. Please suggest on course, any doc u know in XXXXXXX is it beneficial to admit her
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Stop rifampicin,isoniazide and pyrazinamide.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic
I can understand your concern.
She is having AKT induced jaundice. Rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide are hepatotoxic. And can cause drug induced jaundice.
So she needs to stop these three drugs and start ethambutol, levofloxacin and streptomycin injections.
Continue for 7-10 days and get done repeat SGPT and SGOT. If normal than she can restart isoniazid, pyrazinamide and rifampicin.
Also continue udiliv and Liv 52.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Sir,

What are the risks of continuing with the current line of treatment?
How common is it?

Can we continuously monitor LFT and carry on same treatment?

Is there any absolute level in LFT beyond which we can in no circumstances continue and have to change drugs?

Seeing the response only, we are disinclined to change

Also is streptomycin effective? Is it the right dosage suggested?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
According to guidelines, she have to stop hepatotoxic drugs.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
According to guidelines, drug induced Hepatitis is considered after 3 fold rise in liver enzymes after starting AKT.
And WHO guidelines also suggest that we need to immediately stop rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide and replace them with levofloxacin, streptomycin and continue with ethambutol.
No need to worry for drug resistance. Modified drugs are not for remaining course. It is just for 15-20 days. Once her enzymes are normalized, we can start rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide.
Streptomycin is having excellent effect in skeletal tuberculosis. So no harm in giving streptomycin.
Dosage is 750mg.
Please let me know
1. Had she undergone SGPT, SGOT at the starting of treatment?
2. Bilirubin level done or not?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (25 minutes later)
Sir,

Attaching reports for your reference

1. Bilirubin level is unchanged at 0.6

2.sgpt/sgot was done at start of treatment and wee normal at 21,20
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Is she taking any other drugs like aayurvedic or painkiller?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Thanks for the information.
Her enzymes were normal at the start of treatment. And now enzymes are elevated more than 10folds. So she is definitely having AKT induced jaundice.
So better to stop rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide.
Please let me know
1. Is she having abdominal pain or nausea, vomiting?
2. Is she taking any other drugs like aayurvedic or painkiller drugs?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your wife. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)
She was having nausea and vomiting. Appetite reduced as a result. She was having lunch and breakfast. Around dinner time she used eat fruits only and vomit if taking milk

Not using any other drugs

We shifted to drugs to night from day. She is finding it better. Is treatment in the day more effective
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
No harm in taking AKT at night.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
No harm in taking AKT at night.
But she needs to stop hepatotoxic drugs because she is having nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite. And all these are symptoms of drug induced jaundice.
So stop all hepatotoxic drugs and start ethambutol, levofloxacin and streptomycin injections. Also give her Liv 52 and udiliv tablets.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

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Suggest Tretament For Neck Pain, Weakness And Low Appetite

Brief Answer: Continue paracetamol tablet. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your wife's situation and problem. She is having severe form of tuberculosis, disseminated tuberculosis. And in this kind of TB ,along with routine four drug anti TB treatment,patient needs addional levofloxacin or streptomycin. And paracetamol should be continued for atleast 1-2 months. Another important thing is to rule out multi drug resistant (MDR) TB. MDR TB is common in disseminated tuberculosis. Her current symptoms are normal if paracetamol is stopped. So better to continue paracetamol for atleast 1-2 months. Another important thing I want to ask is 1. MDR TB has been ruled out or not? 2. Is she having sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis? Please reply me answers of above asked questions,so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your wife. Thanks.