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How long will it take for my father to recover from TB?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

My father aged 74 is suffering from TB and is under medication for the same since 15 days. There was a bronchoscopy done, which diagnosed the ailment. It has been two weeks since he has the medicines, but he is still feeling very weak. His appetite is very low. Also, he makes a sound while breathing and feels breathless when he is served food. He is unable to sit for more than 5 minutes and always lies down. He has chills and sweats too. I wish to know when he can get rid of these symptoms as his medication is already started. The improvement I see is only minimal.
Answered by Dr. Divakara P

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Divakara. P is a Diabetologist and an Endocrinologist specializing in Pain Medicine and Pulmonology with 18 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in 2006 and MD in General Medicine at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in 2011. He is qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine glands. Currently, he is practicing in Dr. Divakara's Speciality Clinic, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

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Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com. It usually takes three to four weeks to see some improvement. As it has already been 15 days, there should have been some improvement by now. Appetite will be low because of tuberculosis and because of medications. But if he eats less, he shall become more weak that he will be unable to tolerate the medications. So, make sure that he eats frequently. I suggest you syrup Aptivate 0.67 tbsp thrice a day before food to stimulate his appetite. Also, the TB medications can cause mild damage to the liver, which in turn cause weakness and loss of appetite. I recommend you to get LFT (liver function tests) to check his liver status.

Answered by Dr. Divakara P
Medically reviewed by Dr. K. Shobana
Published At February 6, 2017
Reviewed At September 1, 2025

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Divakara. P is a Diabetologist and an Endocrinologist specializing in Pain Medicine and Pulmonology with 18 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in 2006 and MD in General Medicine at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in 2011. He is qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine glands. Currently, he is practicing in Dr. Divakara's Speciality Clinic, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. K. Shobana is a Dental Surgeon specializing in oral health and dental care. She is skilled in preventive dentistry and provides oral hygiene education. She can do restorative treatments such as fillings and crowns. She can handle periodontal problems such as gum diseases and periodontitis. She can do root canal treatment.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Divakara P
Dr. Divakara P

Internal Medicine

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Divakara. P is a Diabetologist and an Endocrinologist specializing in Pain Medicine and Pulmonology with 18 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in 2006 and MD in General Medicine at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in 2011. He is qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine glands. Currently, he is practicing in Dr. Divakara's Speciality Clinic, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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