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°C, and they said they wanted to take a nap. We thought it was just a common cold. By 6 PM in the evening, their temperature measured 39.4°C under the blanket, and we called them to bed around 7 PM. They were taken to the hospital for a thorough examination around 7:30 PM, where their temperature was recorded as 38.6°C. The doctor ordered a blood test and found low white blood cell count and elevated monocyte ratio, diagnosing it as a viral cold. They prescribed antiviral medication and advised using fever-reducing medicine only if the temperature was below 38.5°C.On January 20th, the fever still hadn’t subsided, and in the afternoon, they went to the hospital for a chest X-ray, which showed no issues. On January 21st and 22nd, they still had a fever, reaching over 39°C on both days. On January 23rd, the hospital rechecked their blood test, and all other indicators were normal except for a C-reactive protein level of 113.12. A CT scan revealed "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 be contagious 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, thorough examination, and treatment as soon as possible. Generally, after a clear diagnosis is confirmed, 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.