Managing Persistent Cough After Throat Surgery in Elderly Patients
Coughing persistently after surgery? I would like to ask the doctor: My mother underwent major brain surgery previously and later fell into a state of unconsciousness. She had a tracheostomy due to phlegm in her throat and underwent suctioning. After recovering, my mother often c...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: There are many reasons for coughing after tracheostomy. It is necessary to conduct a chest X-ray and bronchoscopy for further evaluation, and then provide targeted treatment to achieve improvement![Read More] Managing Persistent Cough After Throat Surgery in Elderly Patients
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Is It a Serious Concern?
Pneumonia I have a severe cough due to a cold, but an X-ray showed no pneumonia. However, the doctor told me I have pleuritis. Is this a serious issue?
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, The X-ray shows pleuritis, indicated by whiteness in the lower left or lower right lung base, suggesting the possibility of pleural effusion (commonly referred to as pleuritis). To confirm the presence of pleuritis, an ultrasound is needed to determine if there is fluid ...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Is It a Serious Concern?
Understanding Asthma and Emphysema: Key Insights for Patients
Asthma and emphysema issues? Hello, Doctor: I had a cold and cough for over a month, which led to wheezing, and I went to the hospital for an X-ray. The doctor said I have emphysema (I don't smoke, but I have a history of asthma, and the doctor suspects it might be poorly co...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, Yuting: Here are the brief responses to your questions: 1. A definitive diagnosis of emphysema requires a lung biopsy to observe abnormal enlargement of the alveoli (the smallest structural units of the lung) along with destruction of the alveolar walls. This condition t...[Read More] Understanding Asthma and Emphysema: Key Insights for Patients
Understanding Pneumonia: Transmission, Treatment, and Post-Discharge Care
Pneumonia caused by a cold? Is pneumonia contagious? How is pneumonia treated? What should pneumonia patients pay attention to after being discharged?
Dr. Huang Ruiming Reply:
Dear Mr. Bao, 1. Pneumonia caused by influenza is contagious, while pneumonia caused by the common cold or other bacteria may not necessarily be contagious. 2. Since pneumonia is an acute condition, hospitalization for antibiotic treatment is often required. 3. After discharg...[Read More] Understanding Pneumonia: Transmission, Treatment, and Post-Discharge Care
Understanding Tracheostomy Concerns in Diabetic Patients in ICU
Concerns about tracheostomy? Hello, the patient’s grandfather has been in the intensive care unit for over four months due to diabetes-related amputations. His mental state fluctuates between good and bad. Recently, the doctors have been suggesting a tracheostomy because there ar...
Dr. Chen Jaming Reply:
In general, if a patient on a ventilator requires intubation for more than two weeks without the possibility of extubation, tracheostomy is recommended. Compared to intubation, the benefits of tracheostomy include increased oral comfort for the patient and a reduction in the risk...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy Concerns in Diabetic Patients in ICU
Understanding Tuberculosis Management: Why Home Isolation May Be Recommended
Worried individuals I have a friend whose father has tuberculosis, and the doctor didn't force him to be hospitalized for isolation. Isn't that outrageous?! They actually told him to go home. How should the doctor address this situation?
Dr. Huang Ruiming Reply:
Dear concerned individual: In Taiwan, there are over 13,000 new cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported each year. Not every patient requires hospitalization. Generally, if a patient has a positive sputum smear, they are considered to be more contagious, and the physician may recomme...[Read More] Understanding Tuberculosis Management: Why Home Isolation May Be Recommended
Understanding Side Effects of Tuberculous Pleurisy Treatment
Side effects of tuberculous pleurisy? Dear Doctor, Regarding the issue I raised a few days ago about my father having Sjögren's syndrome and recently being diagnosed with tuberculous pleuritis and his medication, I appreciate your response. My father has been on medication ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Dear Miss Lin, If your father's liver function is normal and the X-ray has not worsened, it should not be related to tuberculous pleuritis or hepatitis caused by anti-tuberculosis medications. It is advisable to check if any other cough or asthma medications are causing iss...[Read More] Understanding Side Effects of Tuberculous Pleurisy Treatment
Managing Chronic Bronchitis: Tips for Improving Lung Health and Comfort
Chronic bronchitis Hello, doctor. Due to autoimmune issues, I have been taking corticosteroids and immunosuppressants for over two months, but my immune system has become very weak, and I keep catching colds. I previously had pneumonia, which was treated, but since then, whenever...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello, 1. If there are abnormalities in the right lower lung on the chest X-ray, further evaluation is recommended to confirm the condition, such as checking for bronchiectasis or other abnormalities. 2. Due to the presence of an autoimmune disease, if you experience nocturnal...[Read More] Managing Chronic Bronchitis: Tips for Improving Lung Health and Comfort
Quick Relief Medications for Acute Asthma: Beyond Albuterol
Medications for acute asthma exacerbation? Dear Director Jun-Jian: Regarding the use of medications for acute asthma (rapid relief), aside from albuterol, are there any other fast-acting medications available? I am not accustomed to the new formulation of albuterol, and my phys...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Yuan: Acute asthma attacks are classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Moderate to severe cases require hospital treatment, while mild cases can be managed with Symbicort, which is less likely to cause tolerance. Additionally, there is Combivent, which is a combination medi...[Read More] Quick Relief Medications for Acute Asthma: Beyond Albuterol
Chronic Cough: Understanding Causes, Risks, and Diagnostic Tests
Persistent cough that does not resolve? Hello: My father has been coughing every day since April of last year, but it is not a constant cough; it only occurs when he transitions from a warm environment to a cooler one. Over the past year, he has visited three medical centers for ...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
1. The most definitive test for lung cancer is a pathological biopsy of suspicious lesions. 2. There are many potential causes for a persistent cough, including asthma, cancer, post-nasal drip, tuberculosis, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux, and side effects from certain medic...[Read More] Chronic Cough: Understanding Causes, Risks, and Diagnostic Tests
Post-Pneumothorax Symptoms: Understanding Recovery and Breathing Issues
Symptoms after a pneumothorax? Doctor: Hello, I was hospitalized in mid-August this year for pneumothorax and underwent intubation treatment. The tube was removed six days later, and I was discharged the following day. However, it has been about a month and a half since then, and...
Dr. Liu Longyu Reply:
Hello Mr. Liu: 1. After treatment for pneumothorax with tube insertion, it indicates that there is no air leakage from the lung surface into the chest wall. The site of the chest tube insertion and the pleura will require time to heal. Occasionally, there may be pain due to nerv...[Read More] Post-Pneumothorax Symptoms: Understanding Recovery and Breathing Issues
Understanding Chest Pain and Throat Discomfort: Possible Causes and Next Steps
Chest pain and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat? About eight months ago, I started feeling a strange sensation in the center of my chest. I went to a pulmonologist for an X-ray, and the doctor said everything looked normal, so I didn't think much of it. However, i...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Your chest X-ray is normal and there are no symptoms related to tuberculosis. If you do not recall any contact with tuberculosis patients, your discomfort should not be related to tuberculosis. Please avoid intentionally pressing or performing chest expansion exercises. Adequate ...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain and Throat Discomfort: Possible Causes and Next Steps
Managing Bronchiectasis: Solutions for Persistent Breathing Issues
Bronchiectasis Dear Dr. Chou, I am a patient with a 30-year history of bronchiectasis (more severe on the left side) and also suffer from nasal allergies. In the past, I would cough up yellow sputum daily and experience asthma attacks from time to time. However, over the past ye...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello, in patients with bronchiectasis, the condition may gradually worsen with age. If the use of bronchodilators does not improve symptoms and there are recurrent bronchospasms, inhaled corticosteroids may be added as indicated. These typically do not have significant long-term...[Read More] Managing Bronchiectasis: Solutions for Persistent Breathing Issues
Understanding Lung Shadows on X-rays: Diagnosis and Next Steps
There is an opacity on the chest X-ray? Hello Dr. Zhou! My father had an X-ray in mid-October, which revealed shadows in the right middle lobe and right lower lobe of his lung (three areas). Sometimes he experiences pain in his right chest while breathing, and it hurts more with ...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Based on the situation you described, the right middle/right lower lung should be compared with older images. If there are new shadows, there is a higher possibility of active lesions. Although no tuberculosis bacteria were found in the sputum, we cannot completely rule out the p...[Read More] Understanding Lung Shadows on X-rays: Diagnosis and Next Steps
Understanding Hemothorax: Causes, Treatment, and Nursing Care for Elderly Patients
Pleural effusion and fluid in the thoracic cavity? Hello! My grandmother is 88 years old and has been in a serious car accident. She has three fractured ribs on the left side, with each rib fractured in three places, and there is fluid in the chest cavity. What is a "連珈胸&quo...
Dr. Tao Ruiming Reply:
Flail chest is a life-threatening condition! It commonly occurs due to chest wall contusions, leading to fractures of the sternum and multiple rib fractures at two or more locations, resulting in the flail segment moving in the opposite direction. This phenomenon, known as "...[Read More] Understanding Hemothorax: Causes, Treatment, and Nursing Care for Elderly Patients
Understanding Lung Issues: Calcium Deposits and Cancer Concerns
Lung issues Hello, doctor! My mother had an X-ray of her lungs and there are numerous white spots. She says she has chest pain and has been feeling like there is phlegm stuck in her throat for a long time. The doctor mentioned lung calcification and said that further monitoring i...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello, if the physician suspects pulmonary calcification, it is often a result of scarring from previous inflammatory diseases. A single X-ray may not be sufficient for confirmation; follow-up comparisons are usually necessary. If there are still concerns, it is advisable to disc...[Read More] Understanding Lung Issues: Calcium Deposits and Cancer Concerns
Understanding Potential Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Key Questions and Next Steps
Diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis? Hello Doctor, In June, during a medical examination for studying abroad, a chest X-ray revealed a fibrotic calcified nodule in the upper lobe of my right lung. The examining physician suggested that it might be a scar from a past tuberculosis...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello, 1. If there were no abnormalities in the chest X-ray six years ago and there are now significant lesions, the likelihood of an active lesion is greater (unless there has been a history of other lung diseases in the past six years). 2. If there is a lesion in the right ...[Read More] Understanding Potential Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Key Questions and Next Steps
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes and Concerns of Blood-tinged Fluid
Pulmonary edema I would like to ask the doctor about my father, who is 61 years old. At the beginning of June, he experienced symptoms of fever and cold. After taking medication for a few days at a clinic without improvement, he went to the emergency room one night in mid-June be...
Dr. Tao Ruiming Reply:
1. Confirm that during thoracentesis for pleural effusion, there was no significant microvascular rupture. 2. A pleural effusion is classified as a hemothorax when the hematocrit of the pleural effusion is greater than half of that of the blood. When the hematocrit of the pleural...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes and Concerns of Blood-tinged Fluid
Understanding Lung Fibrosis and Fluid Accumulation After Trauma
Please provide the content you would like me to translate? Hello, after my mother was in a car accident, an X-ray revealed increased fibrosis in her left upper lung. Later, a CT scan indicated that this might be related to fluid accumulation. If the fluid does not decrease, drain...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Based on your description, your mother has a hemothorax due to the car accident, and it is necessary to aspirate some pleural fluid for examination. If it is confirmed as a hemothorax, it is recommended to place a chest tube for drainage by a thoracic surgeon. If there are other ...[Read More] Understanding Lung Fibrosis and Fluid Accumulation After Trauma
Understanding Bacterial Culture: Importance in Lung Fluid Analysis
What is bacterial culture? Because the patient has some fluid accumulation in the lungs, the doctor said that the fluid needs to be drained out and then a bacterial culture will be performed. The doctor mentioned that it is similar to a Pap smear, where the sample is placed in a ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello Tony: Removing abnormal fluid accumulation in the body, such as pleural effusion (fluid in the lungs), for further analysis can help clarify the diagnosis of diseases. If the fluid contains bacteria (including tuberculosis bacteria and general bacteria), a portion of the fl...[Read More] Understanding Bacterial Culture: Importance in Lung Fluid Analysis