- Female
- 72 Years
- 22/01/2025
I'm really worried about my father. He tested positive for Covid yesterday, and his CT value is 16. He's had a fever for about eight days now with a temperature between 100 to 101. He's also diabetic and although he's been on diabetes medication for years, we're stressed because the fever hasn't eased up yet. He completed both doses of the Covid vaccine a few months back. His current oxygen levels are around 98-99, and his heart rate is between 71-80. He's got a cough and cold too. We started him on Covid meds and are keeping him in home quarantine, but I'm unsure if we should get a Lungs CT Scan done given his diabetes and the persisting fever. What do you suggest?
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View allI'm really worried about my dad. He's been struggling with asthma, and despite visiting the hospital, there's been no real improvement. His main issues are shortness of breath and constant fatigue, and he has a cough that just won't clear up. Could you please suggest any solutions or advice on how to help him?
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Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors
Hey, I'm really worried about my dad. He's been dealing with type 2 diabetes for a while now and recently, about 3 months back, he got diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. He didn't tell anyone in our family because he thought it was just a regular cough and cold. But when things didn't get better, we had him tested, and it turned out to be TB. The chest X-ray and CT scan show a significant infection in both his lungs, with consolidation and cavitation, but thankfully no pleural or pericardial effusion. Now he's also got pneumonia because of all this. He's been on DOTS treatment for the last 10 days, but he's still coughing up phlegm. I'm anxious to know when we might start seeing some improvement in his condition. Could you shed some light on this?
it atleast will take 2-3 months to improve his condition, but you should continue DOTS for 6 months
Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors
I'm worried that I might have caught TB from a friend who's being treated for it, but I don't have any symptoms yet. I'm trying to figure out which test would be most accurate to detect latent TB. Can the Mantoux test and sputum AFB both find it, or is one better than the other?
The most accurate test for detecting latent TB is the Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA), such as QuantiFERON or T-SPOT.TB, which measures the immune response to TB proteins; the Mantoux test (Tuberculin Skin Test) is also used, but it has some limitations, such as cross-reactivity with BCG vaccine and false negatives in immunocompromised individuals; sputum AFB (Acid-Fast Bacillus) smear is used to diagnose active TB, not latent TB, so it's not relevant in your case;
Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors
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.




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