Tuberculosis

[Guest]

I have a son that is a welder, also had a severe wreck last year and had a really bad bruise on his upper left lobe of the lung. His Dr. has started him on TB medication. He said 3-4 different pills on Tues. and Fri. What's going on? Why treatment if he is false positive? Can what ever the MD sees on the chest X-ray be from the bruise are the welding? Should he take TB tests yearly after this are only have a X-ray? He never showed any S/S of having TB.

[Guest]

typically patients who receive treatment for TB have a positive skin test and an abnormal chest xray. sputum samples or a bronchoscopy may be needed to determine for sure if it is TB. I suspect this was done. It is common to treat until the results of that are final, which can take several weeks. the bruise on his lung could have caused scar tissue and that is what they are seeing. Your state department of health may be able to tell you which physicians in your area are tb specialists and perhaps your son can be evaluated by one of them is you are still concerned. Speaking with his doctor would be the first step however.
[quote] I have a son that is a welder, also had a severe wreck last year and had a really bad bruise on his upper left lobe of the lung. His Dr... [/quote]