Hi there, thank you for your question. It is great work that you are doing. The only thing we can do is work together and encourage people to make use of the services available at the local clinics. 

Hi thank you for your question. It is very important that you receive your culture test result, as this can help you to know what to do next.  It is also important to go for a re-test for TB because you may have been re-infected since you finished your treatment. If the new TB test and culture are both negative, the clinic should send you for a chest X-ray. This X-ray will check if the coughing is because of permanent damage to your lungs caused by the TB. Coughing is not always because of an infection or a condition of the chest – it can also be caused by some medication. It’s best that you visit a healthcare worker at your nearest clinic, because they will be able to check you out and tell you what the problem may be. You can use the Clinic Finder to help you find a clinic nearest to you.  

 Hi there, thank you for your question. It is normal to lose weight when you have TB or HIV with a low CD4 count. In fact, weight loss is an indication that the diseases are worsening. So it’s great that you have started treatment for both. 

Weight gain is a sign that you are getting better. Although , it may now become necessary for you to watch how much you eat  and do some regular exercise. 

You can also speak with your nurse/ doctor to find out if you are taking any medication that causes weight gain.  

Lastly, there are other conditions that cause weight gain such problems with your thyroid. You could speak to your nurse/doctor about whether these are a possibility for you. 

Hi there, thank you for your question. If you only have abdominal TB and you have never coughed, and you have never been diagnosed with pulmonary (lung) TB, it’s unlikely that you will spread TB. But it is best that those around you, especially children and anyone who is HIV positive, should get checked for TB at the local clinic. Remember to take your TB treatment and take care of yourself.

Hi, thank you for your question. If you only have abdominal TB and have never coughed or been diagnosed with pulmonary (lung) TB then you are unlikely to be able to spread it. However, those around, particularly young children and anyone who is HIV positive) should still be screened for TB at their local clinic. 

In the meantime, look after yourself and take your TB treatment. 

Hi Anonymous. Yes, TB of the abdomen (and any other form of TB) can still come back after it has been treated. What you can do is to take your treatment for the 6 month period exactly as your doctor tells you. This can prevent the TB from reactivating. You can also get TB from other people even after you have completed your TB treatment – this is called re-infection. It is best to visit your nearest clinic so they can do a proper check-up.

Dear anonymous. There are different types of TB and they are named depending on where they affect the body. TB of the lungs, for example, is TB that affects the lungs. People usually catch it through inhalation (breathing in the bacteria) and it causes symptoms such as coughing and producing sputum (mucus and spit), weight loss, fever and night sweats.

TB of the abdomen affects the abdomen (stomach) and can cause symptoms such as getting fluid in the abdomen or having abdominal organs (like the liver) enlarge, as well as weight loss, fever and night sweats, vomiting and diarrhoea. It can happen if someone who has TB of the lungs swallows their sputum, or if the TB bacteria infect the lymph nodes in the abdomen.

Hi there, your question has been answered 

Hi Anonymous. Congratulations on completing your TB treatment! The symptoms you described sound like those of ‘peripheral neuropathy’. It is a common symptom of medications used to treat TB, and in some cases HIV. Peripheral neuropathy can also result from use of other medication and chronic diseases. If you haven’t been tested for HIV, make sure you get tested soon and know your status. If it’s a side effect of medication, it usually goes away after some time – but either way, there are medications that can help with your symptoms. It is important to consult with a health care worker to be sure of the reason for the neuropathy, so that you can get the right treatment.  

Hi anonymous, Well done for getting tested and starting therapy! You are doing what is best for your health! It can take a few weeks for your body to get used to the medications and it is quite normal to have a few side effects in the beginning. These usually go away with time, so don't stop taking the medicines. If the side effects are getting worse or still worrying you, it is best just to go back to the clinic so that they can make sure there is nothing else that is causing these and they can give you something to help settle the pain. Looking for a clinic near you? No worries! You can find and rate a clinic near you on B-Wise here: http://ow.ly/VuKr30ewGLo 

Hi Anonymous, well done for taking your medication! Taking TB treatment doesn’t affect which alcohol you can or can’t drink once you’ve finished with treatment. But for any person, alcohol should be used in a safe environment and in moderation (a maximum of 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks a day for men), with at least two alcohol-free days per week.