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What Causes Fever While On Anti-TB Medication?
Question: Hi Doc,
My mother, 53 years old had a normal cold&cough and it continued for couple of weeks, later by the month end developed fever, night sweats, chills and felt very tired and weak. Otherwise a very active person started being on bed most of the time.
After consulting the local clinics didn't help much, we went a wellknown hospital.
There she got the blood test done that showed high wbc count. Chest x ray showed clear. Since she looked weak, they got her admitted and put her on IV antibiotics. While she felt a little better the fever was still there every evening. Later ultrasound, CT scan were done that showed all normal including the chest. Since she couldn't give out sputum for test they did bronchioscopy. The doc said she was infected by TB germs.
She was discharged and asked to take rifampin and AT kit medicines.
Fever came down and my mom felt a little better comparatively. She had severe uric acid side effect one day and so she was asked to take medicine for that.
She was fine under tb medication for 10 days. 11 day she started getting fever in the evening 101°. Felt better with crocin.
Fever again the next day.
It is causing me a worry. Is it normal to get fever while under the treatment too?
Thank you. Awaiting your speedy response.
My mother, 53 years old had a normal cold&cough and it continued for couple of weeks, later by the month end developed fever, night sweats, chills and felt very tired and weak. Otherwise a very active person started being on bed most of the time.
After consulting the local clinics didn't help much, we went a wellknown hospital.
There she got the blood test done that showed high wbc count. Chest x ray showed clear. Since she looked weak, they got her admitted and put her on IV antibiotics. While she felt a little better the fever was still there every evening. Later ultrasound, CT scan were done that showed all normal including the chest. Since she couldn't give out sputum for test they did bronchioscopy. The doc said she was infected by TB germs.
She was discharged and asked to take rifampin and AT kit medicines.
Fever came down and my mom felt a little better comparatively. She had severe uric acid side effect one day and so she was asked to take medicine for that.
She was fine under tb medication for 10 days. 11 day she started getting fever in the evening 101°. Felt better with crocin.
Fever again the next day.
It is causing me a worry. Is it normal to get fever while under the treatment too?
Thank you. Awaiting your speedy response.
Brief Answer:
Yes, it is normal to have fever for 1-2 months.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your mother's situation and problem.
Yes, it is normal to have fever for first 1-2 months of anti tb treatment.
Since she is having XXXXXXX (bronchoalveolar lavage) positive for TB bacilli, her diagnosis of tuberculosis is confirmed.
Just make sure that she is taking anti tubercular drugs according to the weight.
Along with anti tb drugs, multivitamin tablet containing folic acid, vitamin b12, vitamin b6 is good.
Give her high protein diet too.
Make sure that she takes anti tb drugs for atleast 6-8 months.
Don't worry, she will be alright.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
Yes, it is normal to have fever for 1-2 months.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your mother's situation and problem.
Yes, it is normal to have fever for first 1-2 months of anti tb treatment.
Since she is having XXXXXXX (bronchoalveolar lavage) positive for TB bacilli, her diagnosis of tuberculosis is confirmed.
Just make sure that she is taking anti tubercular drugs according to the weight.
Along with anti tb drugs, multivitamin tablet containing folic acid, vitamin b12, vitamin b6 is good.
Give her high protein diet too.
Make sure that she takes anti tb drugs for atleast 6-8 months.
Don't worry, she will be alright.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
Hi, I have provided some attachments. Please review them.
Brief Answer:
She is having XXXXXXX positive for AFB.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the images you have attached.
She is having XXXXXXX positive for AFB (acid fast bacilli-bacteria causing tuberculosis).
This is 100% diagnostic of having tuberculosis.
So diagnosis is confirmed.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
She is having XXXXXXX positive for AFB.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
I have gone through the images you have attached.
She is having XXXXXXX positive for AFB (acid fast bacilli-bacteria causing tuberculosis).
This is 100% diagnostic of having tuberculosis.
So diagnosis is confirmed.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your mother. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Dear Doc,
Thank you so much for your quick response and kind wishes.
I was confused as one of the reports it said mycobacterium tuberculosis not detected and in other AFB is detected.
But my mother started feeling better once the anti tb medicines were given to her. But got worried when the fever came back after 10 days. Now she has been having fever around 100° since 3 days.
So I thought may the medicines are not working.
She has been prescribed to take Rifampicin, AKT 4 along with Benadon and uric acid medicine for 2 months only. After that she will be reviewed is what our doc said.
As per your suggestions is it ok to have vitamin supplements along with many other medicines? Will there be any side effects?
With current medicines she has itiching, drowsiness side effects. She had severe leg pain because of uric acid excess but now with medicine it is fine.
Doc, I have a 4 year old son at home. And my mom wears a mask most of the time. But there are times when she will be out of mask. I want to know will my child get prone this infection?
It is getting tough to control him not go then room where my mother is. He has already been many times.
Our doctor asked to observe if the fever lasts for more than a week. If yes we were asked to take levoflox80mg for rest of the two months.
Hope all will be fine soon.
Thank you so much for your quick response and kind wishes.
I was confused as one of the reports it said mycobacterium tuberculosis not detected and in other AFB is detected.
But my mother started feeling better once the anti tb medicines were given to her. But got worried when the fever came back after 10 days. Now she has been having fever around 100° since 3 days.
So I thought may the medicines are not working.
She has been prescribed to take Rifampicin, AKT 4 along with Benadon and uric acid medicine for 2 months only. After that she will be reviewed is what our doc said.
As per your suggestions is it ok to have vitamin supplements along with many other medicines? Will there be any side effects?
With current medicines she has itiching, drowsiness side effects. She had severe leg pain because of uric acid excess but now with medicine it is fine.
Doc, I have a 4 year old son at home. And my mom wears a mask most of the time. But there are times when she will be out of mask. I want to know will my child get prone this infection?
It is getting tough to control him not go then room where my mother is. He has already been many times.
Our doctor asked to observe if the fever lasts for more than a week. If yes we were asked to take levoflox80mg for rest of the two months.
Hope all will be fine soon.
Brief Answer:
Yes, levofloxacin is advisable if fever is persistent.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, levofloxacin is good antibiotic if fever is persistent.
And yes multivitamin tablets are good in tuberculosis patients. No side effects of these tablets.
For your son it is better to give INH prophylaxis. Dose is 5mg /kg daily.
Ask your mother to wear mask especially while coughing.
Please let me know
1. Had your son taken BCG vaccine at birth?
2. Is he having any symptoms like cough, fever etc?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Yes, levofloxacin is advisable if fever is persistent.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, levofloxacin is good antibiotic if fever is persistent.
And yes multivitamin tablets are good in tuberculosis patients. No side effects of these tablets.
For your son it is better to give INH prophylaxis. Dose is 5mg /kg daily.
Ask your mother to wear mask especially while coughing.
Please let me know
1. Had your son taken BCG vaccine at birth?
2. Is he having any symptoms like cough, fever etc?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
My son was given BCG vaccination.
He did have mild throat irritation with runny nose and mild voice change since a week. But no fever. He was fine soon with vicks and cough syrup. Didn't have to go to the doc. He seems active and fine so far.
I had mild sore throat as well, but no fever and other symptoms.
Is there any way to know if the germs have entered the body? I guess the usual skin test may show positive for most people and may not be reliable.
If germs enters another person's body, how long does it take to show symptoms or will remain dormant and show up later. Mostly want to be careful for my son.
Hi Doc,
Also wanted to know will there be chances of fever coming again even after taking levoflox.
Today she had fever again 3 rd day and seems very weak. Luckily she is able to eat food and is hungry.
Thank you very much.
He did have mild throat irritation with runny nose and mild voice change since a week. But no fever. He was fine soon with vicks and cough syrup. Didn't have to go to the doc. He seems active and fine so far.
I had mild sore throat as well, but no fever and other symptoms.
Is there any way to know if the germs have entered the body? I guess the usual skin test may show positive for most people and may not be reliable.
If germs enters another person's body, how long does it take to show symptoms or will remain dormant and show up later. Mostly want to be careful for my son.
Hi Doc,
Also wanted to know will there be chances of fever coming again even after taking levoflox.
Today she had fever again 3 rd day and seems very weak. Luckily she is able to eat food and is hungry.
Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
There is no such test Available.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking there is no such test Available to detect active tb infection at present.
This is the reason why you should take precautions.
And this is the reason why I advised prophylactic INH in your son.
Usually if your son is infected than it will not show disease immediately.
It will take almost 6-8 months to develop active tb disease.
And to prevent this, INH prophylaxis should be given for 6 months. Also maintain good immunity with high protein diet, green leafy vegetables, fruits etc in your son.
Usually in tuberculosis, feverish feeling lasts for atleast 2 months.
And fever should be considered only if temperature is more than 100.
So no need to worry for temperature less than 100.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
There is no such test Available.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Honestly speaking there is no such test Available to detect active tb infection at present.
This is the reason why you should take precautions.
And this is the reason why I advised prophylactic INH in your son.
Usually if your son is infected than it will not show disease immediately.
It will take almost 6-8 months to develop active tb disease.
And to prevent this, INH prophylaxis should be given for 6 months. Also maintain good immunity with high protein diet, green leafy vegetables, fruits etc in your son.
Usually in tuberculosis, feverish feeling lasts for atleast 2 months.
And fever should be considered only if temperature is more than 100.
So no need to worry for temperature less than 100.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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