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Scar On Lungs, Had Pleural Effusion. Have Bad Cough. Are They TB Scars?
Hi, I was detected with a scar on the left side of my lungs during my medical fitness check done in UAE. I was having bad cough 5 years back in 2008 and my Doctor had prescribed me some medicines and within 8 days of taking the medicines my cough was gone so i discontinued my medicines. My Doctor did not disclose the illness that time. Now when the Doctors in UAE found that I have old TB scars on the left side of my lungs, I was deported back to my country. I got in touch with the chest specialist with the latest x-ray and was informed that I am completely fine and do not need any more treatment. He explained that I had pleural effusion , where water was collected on the left side of my lungs and my treating doctor in 2008 had given me anti-TB drugs and dried the water, which has left a scar. My Question is, is there a way that this TB scar can be removed completely by doing a surgery or continuing my medicines ..... ? please help me with a solution ?
posted on
Sat, 16 Feb 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 20 Jun 2013
Answered on
Fri, 21 Jun 2013
Last reviewed on
hi,
thank you for your query.
what you are describing as is called Pulmonary fibrosis.it is a complication of long standing infection such a TB.unfortunately it has no cure. because once lung scarring has developed, it is permanent and irreversible. The only real cure is a lung transplant.
you can just keep getting a check up done every 6 months to check on the scarring if you have any additional symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough
thank you,
wishing you good health
thank you for your query.
what you are describing as is called Pulmonary fibrosis.it is a complication of long standing infection such a TB.unfortunately it has no cure. because once lung scarring has developed, it is permanent and irreversible. The only real cure is a lung transplant.
you can just keep getting a check up done every 6 months to check on the scarring if you have any additional symptoms such as shortness of breath or cough
thank you,
wishing you good health
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