Preventing Tuberculosis Transmission from Non-Resident Relatives: Key Insights
Prevention of Transmission of Tuberculosis from Non-Cohabiting Relatives Hello, doctor. I would like to ask you a question. My husband's grandmother, who does not live with us, is a tuberculosis (TB) patient. After being treated in the hospital with isolation, one month afte...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: 1. If proper protective measures are taken, the risk of infection is extremely low (such as in a well-ventilated environment, the patient wearing a mask, and others wearing N95 masks, etc.). 2. If the patient does not have active tuberculosis, there is naturally no infecti...[Read More] Preventing Tuberculosis Transmission from Non-Resident Relatives: Key Insights
Chest Discomfort and Weakness: When to Seek Medical Attention?
Feeling cool and numb in the chest area, with weakness in the left hand? Hello: A few days ago, I had a fever and went to the emergency room. After two days, I noticed that I had a persistent cough and a hoarse voice, so I continued to seek treatment at an ENT clinic. After takin...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: Please return for a follow-up consultation with Dr. You.[Read More] Chest Discomfort and Weakness: When to Seek Medical Attention?
Understanding Chest Pain: Causes and Concerns for Your Health
Chest issues Hello, I have been experiencing chest pain for about three weeks. The pain feels more like it's coming from the chest wall or the sternum. It occurs in specific positions or movements, and I also feel a tightness in my chest. What could this indicate?
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: It is commonly associated with neuromuscular pain, but it is still necessary to seek medical attention from a physician.[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: Causes and Concerns for Your Health
Understanding Persistent Cough: Is It a Sign of Lung Cancer?
My father has been coughing for a long time? My father is about 45 years old and has a smoking history of 20 years. He quit smoking over a year ago. For the past couple of years, he has been experiencing persistent coughing. According to my mother, his cough has improved since he...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: Please visit the pulmonology department for consultation.[Read More] Understanding Persistent Cough: Is It a Sign of Lung Cancer?
Discomfort Below the Sternum: Possible Causes and Concerns
Discomfort in the middle of the ribs? Hello, since the day before yesterday, I've been feeling a crackling sensation in the middle of my ribs, just below the xiphoid process, especially when I exhale forcefully or cough. Coughing causes some pain, and it feels like there...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: Please visit the pulmonology department for evaluation and consider getting a chest X-ray.[Read More] Discomfort Below the Sternum: Possible Causes and Concerns
Understanding Left Chest Pain: Causes, Concerns, and Next Steps
Left chest pain? Dear Doctor, I have been experiencing persistent left-sided chest pain (which feels like pressure) for the past year. The pain worsens with coughing and tilting my head back. I had a chest X-ray in January 2018, which was normal (I have had three X-rays during th...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: 1. If the chest X-ray and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) do not show any lesions sufficient to explain the chest pain, you may first consult with an orthopedic or cardiology specialist. 2. The LDCT report from June 2016 indicates infiltration; the follow-up interval s...[Read More] Understanding Left Chest Pain: Causes, Concerns, and Next Steps
Understanding Shoulder Pain After Pneumonia Treatment: When to Seek Help
Pneumonia shoulder pain? Hello Doctor: I have been coughing for over a week and have thick yellow phlegm. I do not have a fever and had a chest X-ray on Wednesday, which showed a white area in the lower left lung. The doctor diagnosed me with pneumonia and prescribed antibiotics....
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: If you have new symptoms, consider returning for a follow-up appointment with your physician, especially if you are experiencing worsening shortness of breath, as it is important to seek medical attention promptly.[Read More] Understanding Shoulder Pain After Pneumonia Treatment: When to Seek Help
Severe Pain Between the Second and Third Ribs: Causes and Treatments
Localized pain upon breathing between the second and third ribs on the right side of the chest? Hello, doctor! I've been coughing for two weeks. A few days ago, while fishing, I was lying on the ground picking up floating debris, which put pressure on my right chest. At that...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: Pain during pressure is often due to a neuromuscular strain, but please seek medical attention for a professional evaluation by a physician.[Read More] Severe Pain Between the Second and Third Ribs: Causes and Treatments
Understanding Increased Right Hilar Shadowing in Pediatric Chest X-rays
"Enlarged shadow in the right hilum." Hello, doctor: The school health check for my child indicated an "increased shadow of right hilar enlargement." Could you please explain what right hilar enlargement is? Thank you.
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: Typically, aside from the normal right pulmonary hilum vascular shadows, if there is an increase in shadows or the presence of abnormal shadows, further examination is required to confirm, such as checking for any growths.[Read More] Understanding Increased Right Hilar Shadowing in Pediatric Chest X-rays
Persistent Cough: Seeking the Right Specialist for Diagnosis and Treatment
Persistent cough Hello Doctor: My mother has been coughing for over two months. We initially thought it was a cold, but there has been no improvement. She has visited a pulmonologist and undergone a chest X-ray and auscultation to check for any abnormal lung sounds. The doctor pr...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: If there is no improvement after taking the medication, please consult a pulmonologist for further evaluation and treatment.[Read More] Persistent Cough: Seeking the Right Specialist for Diagnosis and Treatment
Understanding Chest Pain: When to Seek Medical Attention
Chest pain issues? Hello Doctor: The night before last, I had a slight cough due to an itchy throat, and then I started to feel a tight pain in my left chest. The pain persisted throughout the next day, but it seemed to be more pronounced with certain positions. This morning when...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: If there are no symptoms, no asthma, the likelihood of a pneumothorax is quite low. However, to rule out the possibility of a pneumothorax, a chest X-ray is still necessary.[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: When to Seek Medical Attention
Understanding Black Vomit and Cough: Smoking's Long-Term Effects
Coughing up black chunks? Hello, I have been smoking for about 9 years. I don't smoke on Saturdays and Sundays, but last month, a doctor told me that smoking for 40 years at 10 cigarettes a day is more harmful than smoking for 20 years at 20 cigarettes a day. Additionally, h...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: If there is no cough or vomiting, it is still possible that there is a gastric issue. Please discuss your diagnosis and treatment with your physician.[Read More] Understanding Black Vomit and Cough: Smoking's Long-Term Effects
Potential Side Effects of COPD Medications in Non-COPD Patients
Taking medications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without having the condition? Hello Doctor: My elder family member has been suffering from a chronic cough for about twenty years. They previously had tuberculosis but were cured with medication. After con...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: The subsequent physician believes it is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which involves clinical diagnosis. Please discuss this further with your doctor.[Read More] Potential Side Effects of COPD Medications in Non-COPD Patients
What to Do If a Shadow Is Found on the Right Lung During Health Checkup?
Pulmonary issues If a student’s health check reveals a shadow in the right hilum of the lung, what should be done and what possible situations could arise?
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: It may be related to issues with the lungs, mediastinum, or vascular shadows. Further evaluation by a thoracic specialist is necessary.[Read More] What to Do If a Shadow Is Found on the Right Lung During Health Checkup?
Chest Pain When Landing After Jumping: Causes and Solutions
Chest pain when landing on the ground? I noticed today that I experience pain in the center of my chest when I jump or run, and there is also a feeling of pressure when I breathe. Additionally, I feel pain when I sleep on my left side. Previously, I sometimes heard a sound from m...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: You can first visit the orthopedic department, or you may also consult the pulmonology department.[Read More] Chest Pain When Landing After Jumping: Causes and Solutions
Bilateral Hilar Calcifications: What You Need to Know
Bilateral hilar calcifications? Hello Doctor: I had a comprehensive health check-up on October 6th, and the chest X-ray showed bilateral hilar calcifications. I had the same result during my health check-up last year. I do not smoke, and my blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood ...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: It is usually calcified lymph nodes; please follow up with the pulmonology department.[Read More] Bilateral Hilar Calcifications: What You Need to Know
Understanding Hemoptysis: Is Coughing Required for Blood in Sputum?
Hemoptysis refers to the coughing up of blood? I would like to ask if the blood in sputum seen online refers to coughing up blood? Is it possible to have blood in sputum without coughing, and not as a result of coughing it up?
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: Blood in sputum is also a form of hemoptysis, and there are many causes for this. Please consult a pulmonologist.[Read More] Understanding Hemoptysis: Is Coughing Required for Blood in Sputum?
Intermittent Blood in Sputum: Causes and When to Seek Help
Occasional blood in the sputum? At the end of August, I started to have some brownish sputum, sometimes with a few blood spots. I consulted an ENT specialist who performed an endoscopy and found that my throat and nasopharynx were normal. A week later, I began to experience a sor...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: 1. A follow-up chest X-ray can be performed; if hemoptysis persists, a bronchoscopy may be considered. Please consult a pulmonologist. 2. If the focus is solely on the lungs, a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan can be done (but it will be out-of-pocket). The downside ...[Read More] Intermittent Blood in Sputum: Causes and When to Seek Help
Can You Take Asthma and Altitude Sickness Medications Together?
Can asthma medication and altitude sickness medication be taken together? Title: Can asthma medication and altitude sickness medication be taken together if experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness? If not, which one should be taken first?
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: In theory, medications for altitude sickness do not conflict with asthma medications, but please discuss this with your asthma physician.[Read More] Can You Take Asthma and Altitude Sickness Medications Together?
Understanding Intermittent Cough After Cold Recovery: Causes and Insights
Intermittent cough Hello Dr. Zhou, Last year, I had a cold that resulted in a severe cough. After taking medication, most of the cold symptoms have resolved, and the cough has improved, but I still experience mild dry coughing occasionally. Additionally, since that cold a year a...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang reply Pulmonology
Hello: There are many causes of chronic cough, and a diagnosis should be made by a physician. Please visit a pulmonology clinic for evaluation.[Read More] Understanding Intermittent Cough After Cold Recovery: Causes and Insights