HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

What Causes Positive PTB Results With Negative Sputum Test?

Hi doc, My mother diagnosis fibrodensities at the left upper lobe, impression PTB at the left upper lobe confirmed. But her sputum test is negative. The doctor did not give her medicine for Tb because he said the sputum is negative. The doctor advice to take antibiotics only as of now., he advice us to get xray next week. pls.can you advice us what we should do next I don t understand her sputum is negative but she is positive in TB. Why her doctor didn t give her correct medicines for TB. Is that ok doc? Thank you
Thu, 27 Jun 2019
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,

From your description, I am of the opinion that Pulmonary TB has been divided into categories and one of them is sputum negative TB. It signifies that patient has a low grade of chronic infection from tuberculous bacillus that they have formed fibrodensities yet they won't give positive sputum as their number is very less. Ideally, different regimens are used for different categories. But yeah he should be on antitubercular antibiotics regimen. You can ask from your doctor. Have a "GENE XPERT" test done for sure to determine which drugs will work and if it is a multidrug-resistant TB.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Ashish Ranjan, General & Family Physician
I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Loading Online Doctors....
What Causes Positive PTB Results With Negative Sputum Test?

Hello, From your description, I am of the opinion that Pulmonary TB has been divided into categories and one of them is sputum negative TB. It signifies that patient has a low grade of chronic infection from tuberculous bacillus that they have formed fibrodensities yet they won t give positive sputum as their number is very less. Ideally, different regimens are used for different categories. But yeah he should be on antitubercular antibiotics regimen. You can ask from your doctor. Have a GENE XPERT test done for sure to determine which drugs will work and if it is a multidrug-resistant TB. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Ashish Ranjan, General & Family Physician