Patient's question:
Today, after school, my child said they had started feeling a sore throat in the morning. Their temperature was measured at 38.5℃. They wanted to take a nap and initially thought it was just a common cold. By 6 PM in the evening, their temperature measured inside the blanket was 39.4℃. Around 7 PM, they were taken to the hospital for a thorough examination, where the temperature was recorded as 38.6℃. The doctor ordered a blood test and found low white blood cell count and elevated monocyte ratio, diagnosing it as a viral cold. Antiviral medication was prescribed, with instructions to use fever-reducing medication only if the temperature was below 38.5℃.On January 20th, the fever still hadn’t subsided, and in the afternoon, a chest X-ray was done at the hospital, showing no issues. On January 21st and 22nd, the fever persisted, reaching over 39℃ on both days. By January 23rd, the hospital rechecked the blood test, and all other indicators were normal except for C-reactive protein at 113.12. A CT scan was then performed, revealing "changes in both lungs, suggesting infectious inflammation, with a high possibility of secondary tuberculosis." The doctor recommended hospitalization.
Tuberculosis sputum tests and blood tests were both negative, but the PPD tuberculosis test was positive. Could this situation be contagious for tuberculosis?
Doctor's answer:
From the situation you described, it is preliminarily considered that this may be related to tuberculosis transmission. It is recommended that you go to the infectious diseases department for hospitalization to undergo a thorough examination and treatment to resolve the issue. Generally, after a confirmed diagnosis, it is necessary to implement antituberculosis treatment for 6-9 months. It is advised to drink more hot water, pay attention to diet, or go to the hospital for examination and treatment to see what the doctor says, and then proceed with the corresponding treatment.