I'm dealing with tuberculosis and I'm a bit confused. My PCR test came back positive but the culture report was negative. Also, after one month of treatment, my sputum test is negative too. I've already completed two months of treatment. What does this all mean? Should I be worried about the differing test results?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Ibrahim Salah

General Practitioner

MBBS
2+ Yrs

Consult Now

continue the treatment till your doctor has adviced

Dr. Ibrahim Suggests...

Consult a Pulmonology Respiratory Medicine Specialist

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Answered 04/07/2025

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Is the Mantoux test the definitive way to confirm tuberculosis, or is there something else I should be aware of when it comes to diagnosing TB? I'm just trying to understand if there are other tests or steps involved in getting a proper diagnosis. Its all a bit confusing, and Im worried about whether one test is enough.

not confirmatory for active Tuberculosis

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I'm really worried about my grandfather. He's 75, and with his COPD and asthma, his breathing has become pretty challenging. There are these sounds when he breathes, and he seems to breathe from his stomach. Even just a little movement seems to make his breathing worse. It's like he can't be without oxygen at all now. His oxygen level is at 75, and carbon dioxide is 50. Could you help me understand what stage he's in?

consult a pulmonologist

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I'm really confused about my chest x-ray results. It says BVM, but I'm not sure if that means bivascular markings or bronchovascular markings, or if they're actually the same thing. I had the x-ray because I was checking for swollen lymph nodes. What exactly does BVM mean in this context? Should I be worried?

Prominent bronchovascular markings is seen in infections ,bronchitis, asthma,bronchopneumonia,cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension.

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