Fever not improved with Tuberculosis

[Cony12]

Hi all

I'm new to this group. I got sick in march and I was diagnosed with tb in May. They said I had chest cavities. After I took my meds within 2 weeks my cough and fever were gone. For a week I was happy that I was improving and my sputum culture went from 4+ to 1+. But later I developed chills a low grade fever and an increased cough. The fever was 99.5 in the evening so my nurse said it was normal. The next week it went up to 100.5 and this week it's 101.2 and all these 3 weeks the sputum test showed a 1+. The nurse at the tb clinic as told me it was normal. But I'm really worried as the fever keeps raising and I've lost my appetite again. Did someone experience this ? It's been a month into my treatment.

Thanks

[hottchoc]

You poor thing. A temperature is obviously not right, or ok. You may have a reaction to rifampacin it can cause something called drug fever. You need to be reviewed by your consultant not the nurse because she obviously isn’t helping you. Poor treatment again sadly from our medical profession.

Please contact the secretary of your consultant as urgent and ask for a review but don’t accept an appointment with the nurse again because she has just ignored your pleas for help. Good luck, let us know how you get on x

[Cony12 in reply to hottchoc]

Thank you so much. How do we know if this is drug induced fever and not the tb? Because it feels just like tb. Fever in the evening and early morning cough. I'm not sure

[Soul01 in reply to Cony12]

Sorry this is happening. The first few weeks of treatment feel scary but things usually settle down quickly. An experienced TB doctor will know why you are getting the fever. Make sure you ask to speak to the doctor.

[Cony12 in reply to Soul01]

Ok thanks. I'm worried as it's just not the fever. The cough came back along with the fever. I'm afraid that I developed resistance to my drugs.

[Soul01 in reply to Cony12]

Do you know if they did any tests to test for drug sensitivity?

[Cony12 in reply to Soul01]

Yes they did and told me I was sensitive to the first line drugs which I'm taking now. but could I become resistant to it now?

[Soul01 in reply to Cony12]

Then it is highly likely that the drugs will work.

[Cony12 in reply to Soul01]

Okay thanks! hope everything goes well

[Cony12 in reply to Cony12]

It's been very difficult these days. The side effects from the medication and now again the fever. I get really scared and depressed sometimes. I just want to see the light someday

[hottchoc in reply to Cony12]

Unfortunately TB is not a quick fix, and is like no other, you may find things go up and down for weeks. I thought I was ok but three weeks in I started coughing blood, obviously very frightened I rang my consultant who did another chest X-ray and said all these symptoms are part and parcel of TB.

But just to be sure, you need to be checked out by your consultant to at least give you some reassurance. It does sound like you’re treatment is working, just don’t give up. I’m sure you will be feeling much stronger soon.

[Cony12 in reply to hottchoc]

Thank you for all your replies. I hope this just goes away. But can someone develop drug resistance during treatment?

[hottchoc in reply to Cony12]

Not if you follow the treatment, I.e you don’t stop and start your antibiotics.

[Premika]

can you give any update on how you are doing now? And was it drug induced fever that you got?