During the physical exam, Dr B P Verma will check your lymph nodes for swelling and use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds your lungs make when you breathe.

The most commonly used diagnostic tool for tuberculosis is a skin test, though blood tests are becoming more commonplace. Depending on the condition of the patient we use any of the two diagnostic methods.

A TB infection doesn’t always mean you’ll get sick. There are two forms of the disease:

• Latent TB

You have the germs in your body, but your immune system keeps them from spreading. You don’t have any symptoms, and you’re not contagious. But the infection is still alive and can one day become active. If you’re at high risk for re-activation.

• Active TB

The germs multiply and make you sick. You can spread the disease to others. Ninety percent of active cases in adults come from a latent TB infection.

Your treatment will depend on your infection.

• If you have latent TB, our doctor will give you medication to kill the bacteria so the infection doesn’t become active. You might get isoniazid, rifapentine, or rifampin, either alone or combined. 
• A combination of medicines also treats active TB. The most common are ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampin. You’ll take them for 6 to 12 months.
• If you have drug-resistant TB, our doctor might give you one or more different medicines. You may have to take them for much longer, up to 30 months, and they can cause more side effects.