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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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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
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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
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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