I've got a positive TB gold test, but my sputum for AFB and TB CBNAAT tests came back negative. I don't even have a cough. The CT scan of my abdomen showed lymph nodes in the right iliac fossa, but my gastro doctor couldn't spot them during a colonoscopy. How do I figure out if the TB is active or latent? Would an FDG whole body PET CT help clarify whether it's active or latent TB? I'm a bit confused and could really use some guidance on what to do next.

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Shubham Chauhan

General Practitioner

MBBS
4+ Yrs

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Pulmonologist opinion is advised to the patient.

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Answered 04/07/2025

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My dad's dealing with this TB flare-up and he's just started his meds from the DOTS centre today. I'm a bit worried and was wondering, is it safe to give him paracetamol if he gets a fever?

yes you can give

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I'm really worried. I've been having a constant temperature between 99.2 and 99.6 for over a month and a half now. We did all the tests like blood and urine cultures and they came back negative. I've taken the usual antibiotics but they didn't help. My doctor suggested a chest CT and now there's a suspicion of TB. He mentioned getting a TB test, but I don't have any cough or cold, so we can't do a sputum test. Could you take a look at the CT scan and let me know if it really looks like TB? Also, are there any other confirmatory tests we can do for TB apart from the sputum test?

CBNAAT is the confirmatory test for tuberculosis

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Is it normal for an oximeter reading to jump between numbers, like sometimes it shows 95 and then just a few seconds later it's up to 98 or 97? Should I be worried about these fluctuations or is that just how these devices work?

yes it is normal

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

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Disclaimer: Answers on Apollo 247 are not intended to replace your doctor advice. Always seek help of a professional doctor in case of an medical emergency or ailment.