How to treat lung tuberculosis?
Patient: hi this is janakiram from bangalore, i have taken esr test on 3 days back result is 20mm/hr.last year i was suffred with lungs tuberculosis and used tablets upto 9 months, then after an year againg i have taken  ESR test it given 30mm/hr can u please suggest me whether the disease is there on my body? should i consult doctor? please replay me Doctor: Hi and thank you for choosing HCM to post your question.I read carefully your question and understand your concern.The empiric treatment of lung tuberculosis consist of the following 4 drug regimens:Isoniasid,Rifampin,Pyrazinamide,Ethambutol or Streptomycin.The first 2 months the patient takes 4 drugs and if the patient remains Positive(means that in the sputum of the patient you can see bacilus of  TB in direct microscopy) he continues even for another month and if still positive one more month(like i think is your case)and the other 5 months the patient takes only Isoniasid and Rifampin.During treatment patient need to do Direct microscopy of the sputum at the end of second,  third, four months and in the end of treatment .Patient is considered healed from lung TB  when  he has at least two negative direct microscopy of the sputum and there is  radiologic and clinical improvement.Esr(erithrosedimentation rate) is a test that detect infammation with conditions such as infection,cancer,immune diseases.It is a nonspecific test that does not tell where in the body the inflammation is(lung,urinary tract ,other organs)or what is causing it(TB,other bacterial infections,rheumatic disease ect)Also ESR can be affected by other conditions besides inflammation so is not an indicator of telling about Lung Tuberculosis.I hope my opinion can be helpful.Wish you good health.Kind regardsDr.Dushi .