Antibiotics Medicines

Lung Infiltrate

Question:

What is it? What specifically causes it? Can it automatically be assumed that it is TB? If not, what other possibilities exist?

Answer:

Your lungs are usually filled with air as you breathe in and out. When you get a chest x-ray, the air in the lungs causes the x-ray to appear black. Sometimes a shadow (white) can appear on the lung. This can be from an infiltrate or a collapse of the lung. If you have an old chest x-ray, doctors can see if the change is new or old to compare.

A collapse of the lung or atelectasis means that area of the lung is not receiving air so the lungs are not expanding. An infiltrate occurs when a substance other than air enters the lungs. An infiltrate may be due to many causes both infectious and non-infectious. Tuberculosis (TB) can cause an infiltrate on a chest x-ray. However you CANNOT automatically assume that all infiltrates are from TB. Pneumonias from other infections caused by other bacteria, viruses, and fungi can all cause an infiltrate.

Why did your doctor order the chest x-ray? Were you having any lung symptoms such as fever or cough? A person with TB of the lung will usually have had a prolonged cough for greater than 3 weeks that does not improve with antibiotics, fever, night sweats, weight loss, chest pain, or even coughing up blood. Other risk factors for TB include exposure to someone with TB and having a medical condition that might decrease your immune system so that you are more likely to develop TB if you were exposed. Did you have a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) or a blood test for TB?

Your doctor can determine what is causing the infiltrate. If you have symptoms of fever, chills, or cough, he may want to obtain some sputum samples to see if there is an infection of some type. A chest tomography (CT) scan is more sensitive than a chest x-ray and can show more details of the infiltrate to help differentiate among the causes.

A person with TB of the lung is infectious and can spread TB to others when they cough, sneeze, laugh, or sing. Therefore it is important to make the diagnosis quickly. The treatment for active TB requires multiple antibiotics for at least 6 months.

Read also:

What’s so important about taking all of your antibiotic?

It's a fact: Not taking all of your antibiotic may jeopardize your health Many people think that it's no big deal if they don't finish every pill when their doctor prescribes an antibiotic. Sometimes when people start to feel better, they figure they don't need to complete their therapy. If this sounds familiar, you h ... What’s so important about taking all of your antibiotic?

Sudden Drop In Blood Pressure

Question: While getting ready to have a molar extracted by being put to sleep, my husband experienced a sudden drop in blood pressure. He takes Lipitor, Accupril, and Metformin regularly, but had not taken his AM doses because of the infected tooth and 10:00 appt time. He did take his antibiotic. He had had nothing by ... Sudden Drop In Blood Pressure

Are There Any Non-sulfa Drug Diuretics for High Blood Pressure

Question: I am being treated for high blood pressure. I use Dynacirc, Lisinopril, and Toprol. Are there any diuretics available which are not related to Thiazides or Lasix, as I am allergic to sulfa drugs? Answer: Patients who report a "sulfa" allergy are generally referring to a previous reaction to a sulfo ... Are There Any Non-sulfa Drug Diuretics for High Blood Pressure

Serotonin-Dopamine Antagonists in the Treatment of Stuttering

by Nathan Lavid from California, USA The aim of this article is to discuss the use of the serotonin-dopamine antagonists (SDAs) in those who stutter.  Stuttering, like nausea, schizophrenia, and Tourette syndrome, is associated with increased activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine.   Neuroimagin ... Serotonin-Dopamine Antagonists in the Treatment of Stuttering

Most Effective Antibiotics For Periodontitis

Question: I am age 66. I only have a very few molars left and a couple of them are constantly becoming inflamed. When I lived in the US my dentist used a sulfer drug tablets to treat me that was very effective. Unfortunately he has retired and I`m unable to get the name. I am retired in Israel where the dentists all s ... Most Effective Antibiotics For Periodontitis

Search