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All of a sudden I came down with the symptoms of the common cold on Fed 26, 2010. sore throat, body aches, a slight fever. these symptoms got worst, I begin to cough uncontrollably until I took cough syrup to get it under control. One thing I noticed when I coughed was that my lungs would feel sore or like they were hurting every time I coughed. I could physically feel my lungs moving when I coughed and the aching was weird although not sharp or very painful. Im a bit concerned since I test positive for TB skin test in Jan 2010 but my chest x-ray was normal. I prescribed Isoniazid for 9months. although my symptoms are better, the lung aching with the cough persists, should i take a visit to the doctor if this continues periodically when I blow my nose, a mucus mixed with a little bit of blood comes out!
Optional Information: Gender: FemaleAge: 20 Already Tried: Cough Syrup Vicks Vapor Rub Aleve
Hi.
Welcome to Just Answer.
All the symptoms you have mentioned, fever, cough, body aches, sore throat and lethargy are characteristic of Tuberculosis.
Sometimes, the Chest xray does not show the characteristic appearance of Tuberculosis, if the disease is detected at an early stage, because the cavitations have not appeared as yet, and it is difficult to comment on a primary tuberculous focus on a Chest xray. The best way to diagnose tuberculosis is to get a Mountoux Skin Test done (which was positive in your case) and get Sputum for AFBs (acid fast bacilli) done. A rasied ESR and clinical symptoms are almost always enough to conclude a diagnosis.
Sometimes, the sputum and infiltrates as a result of tuberculosis or another lower respiratory chest infection cause intense coughing and because of the highly sensitive membrane that covers the lungs known as pleura gets irritated and causes severe pain mos often referred to one of the arms or the back and aggravated on breathing ensues. This is often called pleurisy and can be manifested in tuberculosis or pneumonia.
I suggest that you take 4 hourly steam inhalations and lozenges and get chest physiotherapy done to ease the expectoration of sputum out and start on a cough syrup available over the counter. A pain killer like tylenol or Advil can be used to ease the pain.
If the symptoms persists, visit your Doctor and get a Chest xray and some blood workup done to rule out cavitations and/or a secondary chest infection. If you smoke, kindly cut down and if you are allergic to dust and smoke, you should wear a mask when you go outside your house.
Hope this helps.
Regards.
AS I am reading your answer, it feels like my lungs are stiff, there is a weird sensation around my rib cage area. When i breathe deeply in and out, there is no pain whatsoever.
Hi again.
Stiffness is a sign of a bad chest. I suggest that you start on the steam nebulization / inhalation right away, that will surely give you relief. This happens when the alveoli (small balloons in the lungs) fail to expand fully due to sputum and phlegm stuck in them.
If you notice that you have a wheeze and/or a grunting sound coming out with your breath then you should go and see a doctor at the earliest. Bronchodilators can help in these cases, but nebulization with brochodilators like Salbutamol can be provided in the ER or the Hospital Clinic more effectively, can also be done at home if a nebulizer machine is available at home.
Get well soon.
Experience: MBBS, FCPS (R) General Surgery. Years of experience in Emergency Medicine.