OpenHealth Q&A

Unveiling My TB Diagnosis: Was This the Cause of My Past Illness?

At age 23 and living in the USA, I recently embarked on a new job at a hospital which mandated a tuberculosis (TB) blood test. The results were unexpected – a positive diagnosis! Although I don’t have any current symptoms and have scheduled a chest x-ray for Monday, I can still commence work in a few weeks, albeit with additional requirements to fulfill in the meantime. Reflecting on my health issues from two years ago, I experienced a severe illness while at college. During that time, I was socializing frequently, attending fraternity parties, and consuming around 6-8 drinks weekly, which I'm sensitive to. What began as a simple cough rapidly escalated into something far more alarming. I've always dealt with recurrent coughs during colds, having experienced bronchitis multiple times and one incident of pneumonia, but this was on an entirely different level. The cough became so intense that it kept me awake at night, rendering me unable to retain food or water. I was vomiting anywhere from five to ten times daily due to the persistent coughing. In a span of three to four months, I lost 60 pounds. While I coughed up white lumps, I thankfully never saw blood. Ultimately, I had to resign from my job and struggled academically because I was often confined to my home. Even though it was winter in the Northeast, stepping outside felt overwhelmingly hot. Living alone without a partner or nearby family made matters worse, and I hesitated to disclose the severity of my situation to friends, leading to considerable isolation. Over this period, I visited the doctor more than seven times, and my condition escalated to the point where I needed hospitalization twice, often losing consciousness and experiencing hallucinations—on one occasion, I fainted in the hospital lobby. The medical team ran an exhaustive panel of tests, screening for a wide array of illnesses: COVID-19, various strains of influenza, RSV, a number of coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus, and several others, including mycoplasma pneumoniae. After two clear chest x-rays ruled out pneumonia, I eventually received a positive result for rhinovirus. The doctors suspected a combination of a bacterial infection alongside the rhinovirus. Although I underwent multiple rounds of antibiotics during this time, none provided a sustainable solution. The hospital managed to give me intravenous steroids and antibiotics that offered temporary relief, but my condition soon worsened again. The height of this health crisis spanned from mid-October to mid-December. It wasn’t until I returned home for the holidays and allowed myself 12-15 hours of sleep daily that I began to recover. It took an additional six months to regain my lost weight, though thankfully, the cough eventually subsided. With this new diagnosis of latent tuberculosis, I'm left wondering if it could have been the reason behind my earlier ordeal, or was it solely a severe case of rhinovirus? I reviewed my medical history and noticed TB testing hadn’t been conducted. Is it possible for TB to shift from an active state to a latent one? Can a person's immune system conquer an active infection? For context, I've only traveled abroad once in the past seven years, which was to Europe within the last three months. Additional note: I still have my tonsils intact.

Answers (1)

8/15/2025, 6:51:31 AM

OpenHealth AI

It's understandable to have concerns about the implications of your recent tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, especially in light of your past health struggles. Here’s a breakdown addressing your questions and offering guidance moving forward.

Main Points

1. You have a positive TB diagnosis but without current symptoms.
2. Your past severe illness could be separate from TB, as it primarily involved a rhinovirus and possibly a bacterial infection.
3. Latent TB does not typically cause active symptoms.
4. Your immune system can control some infections over time, but active TB requires treatment.

Explanation

Latent TB means that while the bacteria are present in your body, they are inactive and not causing illness. It’s different from active TB, where symptoms are apparent and spread is possible. Based on your description, the severe illness you experienced two years ago, with the cough and significant weight loss, seems more aligned with a viral infection (like rhinovirus) rather than TB since TB usually has a longer incubation period and chronic symptoms.

It is rare, but under certain circumstances, a person's immune system can control an active TB infection, allowing it to become latent; however, reactivation can still occur, especially if the immune system weakens.

Next Steps

1. Chest X-ray: Have your scheduled chest X-ray. This is crucial for determining if there are any signs of active TB.
2. Follow-Up Testing: Depending on the X-ray results, further tests may be needed, such as a sputum test to detect TB bacteria.
3. Monitoring Symptoms: Keep a close watch on any changes in your health. If you develop symptoms like a persistent cough, fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss, you should report these immediately.
4. Healthy Lifestyle: Focus on maintaining a strong immune system through a balanced diet, sufficient rest, and regular exercise. Avoid heavy drinking, as you've noted sensitivity to alcohol.
5. Emotional Support: Consider reaching out to friends or support groups, especially since isolation can affect mental health, especially after your past experiences.

Your situation is complex and understandably concerning. I’m here if you have more questions or need clarification on any points.