My mother underwent Tuberculosis (TB) treatment, now started getting fever is it incomplete cure or relapse of TB?

My mother underwent TB treatment for one year recently with Levofloxacin 750 & ethambutol 1000, after a spate of failed treatment of six months, two years ago, with ethambutol 800, isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrozinamide. Her symptoms disappeared totally. Her pulmonologist stopped her medicines.He did not do a AFB test on stoppage of treatment. After stoppage of treatment for 15 days she was absolutely fine. Since last two days she has started getting fever (100+) once again in the evenings. Could it be a case of incomplete cure or relapse of TB? very Mild cough with phlegm has also appeared since yesterday.



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Ahmed Fawzy
11:09 pm

Hi
Yes relapse is possible so first do a TB test then ask the doctor to put her on 4-drug regimen to make sure she is cured this time
Let’s hope it is just common cold
Good Luck

Ayman Darrag
9:05 am

Thats is mostly a recurrent infection we need to get a new sensitivitu cullture done to get a suitable antibiotic full course..

Dr.Honey Arora
12:40 pm

Hi..
Such symptoms can be probably due to common cold or flu also..
But as she already had TB along with relapse she is at a higher risk..
So it is advisable not to take any risk and go for a Montoux test, chest x ray and sputum culture done for diagnosis and treatment can be done accordingly..
If there is a relapse then a proper course of anti tuberculosis drugs has to be taken..

Dr.Honey Arora
12:42 pm

Also I would like to add that Tuberculosis is a communicable disease that can spread through droplet infection.
So to be on a safer side keep the kids as well as others protected by avoiding close contact with her and also let her sneeze or cough by covering mouth and nose with a tissue..