Is a Mantoux test required for my child with cough and cold?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concern.

Recurrent episodes of cough and cold occur when the child has decreased immunity due to some illness, or it could be a symptom of tuberculosis. Mantoux test of more than 10x10 mm is suggestive of tuberculosis. In your child, it is 18x16 mm, which is strongly positive.

• In tuberculosis, the symptoms are weight loss or poor weight gain, persistent cough, and low-grade fever. The confirmation tests are positive: Mantoux test, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) level, and X-ray may or may not show patches. Usually, a history of tuberculosis contact is also present. Going by symptoms in your child, like recurrent cough and cold, weight is around 26.4 pounds, which is less for her age, with a positive Mantoux test, which is suggestive of tuberculosis.
• In tuberculosis, treatment is continued for six months. Initially, a combination of Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol is given for two months, then changed to Isoniazid and Rifampicin for four months.
• Your doctor has prescribed Rifacept Kid-3 tablets, which contain Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Pyrazinamide but no Ethambutol.
• In my opinion, Akurit-4 should be started, which has Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol. This should be given for two months, after which the drug should be changed to a combination of Isoniazid and Rifampicin. You should take the drug for tuberculosis regularly; tuberculosis is a treatable disease, so there is no need to panic.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

You should give her a multivitamin syrup, such as Bevon (multivitamin, multimineral, and antioxidant), one teaspoon twice a day until the medicines are discontinued. Continue the medicine after consulting your doctor. There should be proper ventilation at home. Tuberculosis usually spreads from contact with an infected person.

Try to find out who has tuberculosis in the area. Get chest X-rays of all family members to know whether they are infected with tuberculosis or not. For the first five days of starting the treatment, the child can spread tuberculosis, so try to cover her mouth while sneezing. After five days, the infection will not spread.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

First of all, you should keep in mind that tuberculosis is a treatable disease, and you should not panic much about it. It is a very common disease that is totally curable. When we start the treatment of tuberculosis, sometimes the child may have nauseating feelings and due to the Rifampicin component, the saliva and urine become reddish-orange. Both are normal and you should not stop the drug due to this.

The Isoniazid component can lead to pyridoxine deficiency, so the child must be given multivitamin syrup till the treatment continues. You should treat the child as normal and there is no special diet modification for tuberculosis. You just give her the food that you were giving her earlier. You can bath the child as you were bathing her before.

Yes, the child should be protected from extreme temperatures and proper clothing should be done during winters. For the initial two to three days, the child may feel nausea. So, you should keep the child at home and then you can send the child to play school. One important thing, is the drugs for tuberculosis like Akurit-4, and Rifacept-3 should be taken empty stomach in the morning.

Baseline liver function tests, kidney function tests, and uric acid levels should be done before starting the treatment. These tests should be repeated every month to see whether any derangement is present or not. If a derangement is seen, the dose of drugs needs to be changed. In all, I advise you to treat the child as a normal child and give the drug for tuberculosis daily.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

There is no restriction for food. In fact, you can give everything to the child. Ice cream can be given in a limited quantity.

I hope that you get your answer.

Please let me know if you need any help.

Thank you.