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Chest X-ray Showed Undetermined PTB Activity, Advised Pulmonary Clearance. How Does The Process Function?
Hi Doctors! I had my pre employment medical exam last week. I was alarmed when my employer said that the result of my chest xray says PTB undetermined activity. I dont smoke and my family does not have a history of such disease. What do I do? my employer advised me to get a pulmonary cleanance from the pulmonologists, may I know how the process goes? thank you and GOD bless
Mon, 16 Jul 2012
hello megu.nakadai
thank you for choosing our forum
i am concerned about your situation and i would ask you to get sputum for acid fast bacilli done for 2 consecutive days. get a repeat chest x-ray done. the presence of acid fast bacilli is the gold standard for diagnosis of PTB. you can also take a simple antibiotic course for 14days if sputum negative and get a repeat chest x-ray to look for clearance.
visit a pulmonologist and he can give you clearance if sputum results are negative.
wish you a good health and success
thanks
Dr. Gurpreet Narula
thank you for choosing our forum
i am concerned about your situation and i would ask you to get sputum for acid fast bacilli done for 2 consecutive days. get a repeat chest x-ray done. the presence of acid fast bacilli is the gold standard for diagnosis of PTB. you can also take a simple antibiotic course for 14days if sputum negative and get a repeat chest x-ray to look for clearance.
visit a pulmonologist and he can give you clearance if sputum results are negative.
wish you a good health and success
thanks
Dr. Gurpreet Narula
I find this answer helpful
User's Response
Dr. Tushar Sahasrabudhe's
Response
Hello.
Active Pulmonary TB normally would be symptomatic. You seem to be asymptomatic. In that case the X-ray shadow seems to be an old scar/ calcification. However, as suggested by other doctors in the forum, get evaluated for any activity. The concern by your employer is right as active TB is an infectious disease and an affected employee can spread it to other employees.
Rememeber that TB is an infectious disease. It spreads by spitting on roads and careless coughing by people in our society (including TB patients). TB has nothing to do with smoking or family history. Lets take an example... If i drink contaminated water, I will get diarrhoea. Has it anything to do with my family history or smoking history?
-Dr. Tushar
Active Pulmonary TB normally would be symptomatic. You seem to be asymptomatic. In that case the X-ray shadow seems to be an old scar/ calcification. However, as suggested by other doctors in the forum, get evaluated for any activity. The concern by your employer is right as active TB is an infectious disease and an affected employee can spread it to other employees.
Rememeber that TB is an infectious disease. It spreads by spitting on roads and careless coughing by people in our society (including TB patients). TB has nothing to do with smoking or family history. Lets take an example... If i drink contaminated water, I will get diarrhoea. Has it anything to do with my family history or smoking history?
-Dr. Tushar
User's Response
Dr. swapnendu sekhar ghosh's
Response
Hi,
you need to consult physician specialist in chest diseases.
Get a consultation and get the tests done as advised to find out the status of the P T B if it is there .
Discuss with your doctor and get the required report if you are free of active P T B .
with best wishes .
you need to consult physician specialist in chest diseases.
Get a consultation and get the tests done as advised to find out the status of the P T B if it is there .
Discuss with your doctor and get the required report if you are free of active P T B .
with best wishes .
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