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What Causes Persistent Cough,joint Aches And Stiffness In Fingers?
Female, 61 yrs, 61 kgs.
Her symptoms include persistent cough for more than a month. Joint aches and stiffness in fingers early in the morning. Swelling in feet on and off for sometime now. She has had corneal transplant in both eyes and cataract surgery in one. Last surgery was 2009. Weight was very low at that time but now has increased. Her apetite has always been fluctuating. She isn't very active, just doing some stuff around the house and doesn't go out very much. One year ago we did an xray for the visa but they didn't point out any significant issues and now the current xray is attached. She had TB as a child for which she took medication and completed the dose. She doesn't have any known allergies. Currently she is on eye drops and she is taking Meloxicam 15mg, Rabeprazole 20mg once a day as prescribed by the GP for pain and acidity. She also has some hairloss. Her teeth had been removed and she wears dentures now.
The pulmonologist has requested the following tests:
A. High resolution CT CHEST (get quote for 'contrast' as well)
B. Complete pulmonary function tests
C. Blood tests > 1. ANA, 2. ANCA, 3. Rheumatoid Factor, 4. QUASTIFENON TB (not sure of the spelling)
Her symptoms include persistent cough for more than a month. Joint aches and stiffness in fingers early in the morning. Swelling in feet on and off for sometime now. She has had corneal transplant in both eyes and cataract surgery in one. Last surgery was 2009. Weight was very low at that time but now has increased. Her apetite has always been fluctuating. She isn't very active, just doing some stuff around the house and doesn't go out very much. One year ago we did an xray for the visa but they didn't point out any significant issues and now the current xray is attached. She had TB as a child for which she took medication and completed the dose. She doesn't have any known allergies. Currently she is on eye drops and she is taking Meloxicam 15mg, Rabeprazole 20mg once a day as prescribed by the GP for pain and acidity. She also has some hairloss. Her teeth had been removed and she wears dentures now.
The pulmonologist has requested the following tests:
A. High resolution CT CHEST (get quote for 'contrast' as well)
B. Complete pulmonary function tests
C. Blood tests > 1. ANA, 2. ANCA, 3. Rheumatoid Factor, 4. QUASTIFENON TB (not sure of the spelling)
Thu, 8 Jan 2015
HI
Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Cough of one month duration in a patient with past history of TB always raises a suspicion of relapse of TB . So first thing that has to be done is to confirm or rule the possibility of TB.
In that view she has to be tested with Sputum AFB and Sputum Culture sensitivity for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria.
As of her stiffness of joints is concerned it is due to Arthritis and what kind of Arthritis has to be diagnosed. For that you need to get Serum Uric Acid , RA factor and X ray of wrist joint.
HR CT chest as advised by your Pulmonologist will look into other causes of cough including Cancers . I would recommend you to go ahead with this scan .
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any further clarifications feel free to ask.
Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Cough of one month duration in a patient with past history of TB always raises a suspicion of relapse of TB . So first thing that has to be done is to confirm or rule the possibility of TB.
In that view she has to be tested with Sputum AFB and Sputum Culture sensitivity for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis bacteria.
As of her stiffness of joints is concerned it is due to Arthritis and what kind of Arthritis has to be diagnosed. For that you need to get Serum Uric Acid , RA factor and X ray of wrist joint.
HR CT chest as advised by your Pulmonologist will look into other causes of cough including Cancers . I would recommend you to go ahead with this scan .
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any further clarifications feel free to ask.
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