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What Do Chronic Headaches While On Treatment For TB Of Brain Indicate?
Question: Hello doctor,
My mother has TB of the lymph nodes and the brain (she had the first occurrence of tb in the lungs 2 years back and she was cured). She has been on medication for the past 6 months. Before taking medication her symptoms were swelling of lymph nodes, cough, head ache, fatigue. Soon after she started taking her medication she had a seizure and that's when we realized that she also had TB in the brain. We continued the TB medication along with some medicine from the neuro surgeon. We also had her tested for drug resistant TB 2 months ago as it was her second incidence of TB and the results came back NEGATIVE. Since then she never had a seizure, no cough, her weight has improved, the swelling has gone away. But since last week she has been having head aches, sometimes mild and sometimes severe. This has happened around 4 times in the last 10 days. The head ache sometimes goes away after taking food or after taking a nap. What due you think can be the reason behind this? Is this a common side effect? Or can it be something else? Please advice. Thank You.
My mother has TB of the lymph nodes and the brain (she had the first occurrence of tb in the lungs 2 years back and she was cured). She has been on medication for the past 6 months. Before taking medication her symptoms were swelling of lymph nodes, cough, head ache, fatigue. Soon after she started taking her medication she had a seizure and that's when we realized that she also had TB in the brain. We continued the TB medication along with some medicine from the neuro surgeon. We also had her tested for drug resistant TB 2 months ago as it was her second incidence of TB and the results came back NEGATIVE. Since then she never had a seizure, no cough, her weight has improved, the swelling has gone away. But since last week she has been having head aches, sometimes mild and sometimes severe. This has happened around 4 times in the last 10 days. The head ache sometimes goes away after taking food or after taking a nap. What due you think can be the reason behind this? Is this a common side effect? Or can it be something else? Please advice. Thank You.
Brief Answer:
Brain imaging is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
TB of the central nervous system is very hard to treat at times. The fact your mother felt better is heartening but still late complications can occur and a high alertness scale should be employed in nervous system TB patients. For that reason any new or worsening neurological symptoms do prompt evaluation with brain imaging for complications like hydrocephalus, abscess, encephalopathy etc. So if your mother hasn't a prior history of chronic headache or any other cause is found brain imaging is warranted,you should contact her doctor.
Also a blood panel for complications like hyponatremia which can also manifest with neurological symptoms which are possible in patients being treated for tuberculosis is necessary (not very likely though).
I remain at your disposal for there questions.
Brain imaging is necessary.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
TB of the central nervous system is very hard to treat at times. The fact your mother felt better is heartening but still late complications can occur and a high alertness scale should be employed in nervous system TB patients. For that reason any new or worsening neurological symptoms do prompt evaluation with brain imaging for complications like hydrocephalus, abscess, encephalopathy etc. So if your mother hasn't a prior history of chronic headache or any other cause is found brain imaging is warranted,you should contact her doctor.
Also a blood panel for complications like hyponatremia which can also manifest with neurological symptoms which are possible in patients being treated for tuberculosis is necessary (not very likely though).
I remain at your disposal for there questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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