Understanding Recurrent Pneumothorax: Do You Need Surgery?
Pneumothorax twice? Hello Dr. Chang, I have experienced two episodes of pneumothorax in my right chest, but neither required chest tube insertion; both times I recovered at home. However, after browsing some medical websites, I found that doctors recommend surgery after a second...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Mr. A-Jun: Pneumothorax in young individuals typically occurs only once, but some may experience recurrent episodes. Generally speaking, among patients who have had more than one occurrence, at least one-third will have another episode. Therefore, for those with recurrent pneumot...[Read More] Understanding Recurrent Pneumothorax: Do You Need Surgery?
Concerns About TB Exposure: Am I at Risk After Contact?
Is it possible to get it? I apologize for bothering you again, but I would like to clarify something. If I have caused any trouble, I sincerely apologize. Last week, a friend's father was diagnosed with open pulmonary tuberculosis in the hospital. My friend has been taking c...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Hello: All close contacts should undergo a chest X-ray, and sputum tests can also be performed. If the results are normal, there should be no need for concern. In fact, Taiwan has a very high incidence of tuberculosis (ten times that of the United States), and anyone can potentia...[Read More] Concerns About TB Exposure: Am I at Risk After Contact?
Disappearing Lung Nodules: Understanding Chest X-Ray Findings and Follow-Up
A suspected nodule in the lung lobe was not visible on the follow-up X-ray? In early June, I underwent a basic health check arranged by my company, which included a chest X-ray. However, due to gastrointestinal discomfort (loss of appetite and bloating), I returned to a private h...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Q: Is it possible for nodules to appear and disappear? A: Poor quality X-ray imaging can often lead to diagnostic issues for physicians. It is also possible that an inflammatory shadow may have resolved after a few days. You can choose to trust the diagnosis of the pulmonologist ...[Read More] Disappearing Lung Nodules: Understanding Chest X-Ray Findings and Follow-Up
Understanding Asymptomatic Pulmonary Infiltrates: Causes and Implications
Pulmonary infiltration The body shows no abnormalities, but a chest X-ray during a physical examination revealed infiltrates, with no discomfort reported. What are the possible causes of pulmonary infiltrates? Thank you for your guidance.
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, SRS: Pulmonary infiltration refers to the presence of abnormal lines or shadows in the lungs, which may be due to slightly enlarged blood vessels, mild pulmonary inflammation, or mild pulmonary tuberculosis. In any case, you need to return to the pulmonology clinic for a f...[Read More] Understanding Asymptomatic Pulmonary Infiltrates: Causes and Implications
Understanding Chest Pain: Is It Pneumothorax or Something Else?
Experiencing chest pain only when sneezing or during deep breathing does not necessarily indicate a pneumothorax? Hello Dr. Yang: I am unsure if the discomfort is due to frequent basketball collisions during high school, but since college, I have experienced a feeling of tightnes...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello, based on your chest X-ray results, there is over a 90% chance that there are no issues with your lungs. Considering your young age, it is unlikely that there are any significant pulmonary pathologies. It is possible that you are experiencing costochondritis or what Traditi...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: Is It Pneumothorax or Something Else?
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery in Elderly Patients
Pleural effusion I previously asked about my grandfather, who developed pulmonary edema due to malnutrition. Last week, he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Hukou Mercy Hospital because of elevated carbon dioxide levels in his body. The doctor indicated that there is no ...
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: The most common causes of pleural effusion (hydrothorax) in the elderly include heart failure, cirrhosis, uremia, and malnutrition. If the effusion is unilateral, one should consider tuberculous pleuritis, pneumonia-related effusion, and cancer metastasis. Treatment should...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery in Elderly Patients
Understanding Tracheostomy: Care Options and Quality of Life for Patients
Regarding tracheostomy? Dear Dr. Yang, I apologize for bothering you again. My father has been in the respiratory intensive care unit for over ten days, and he has been on a ventilator for more than ten days prior to that. Recently, the medical staff has been continuously provid...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Xiao Zhen: Hello, I will answer your questions briefly as follows: 1. Performing a tracheostomy allows for better airway management, making the patient more comfortable. As long as they can be weaned off the ventilator, there is a possibility of extubation in the future. 2. As lo...[Read More] Understanding Tracheostomy: Care Options and Quality of Life for Patients
Can I Contract Tuberculosis from a Friend's Family Member?
Is it possible to contract it? A family member of my friend has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and is currently in an isolation ward. I have had contact with my friend. Is it possible for me to contract the bacteria? If so, could I be asymptomatic or transmit it to my family? C...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam, Individuals who have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be at risk of infection. When an infectious pulmonary tuberculosis patient coughs or sneezes, airborne droplets containing the bacteria can be inhaled by a healthy person, leading to infection. A...[Read More] Can I Contract Tuberculosis from a Friend's Family Member?
Understanding Lung Calcification: Causes, Concerns, and Health Implications
Pulmonary calcification Hello, Dr. Yang. The day before yesterday, I went for a health check-up and had an X-ray done. The doctor mentioned that there is calcification in my lungs and asked if I have ever had tuberculosis. The problem is that I have never had such an illness, and...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: The presence of calcifications on a chest X-ray indicates that there have been past inflammatory lesions in the lungs (not necessarily tuberculosis) that have healed, leaving behind scar tissue, similar to how scars form after injuries on the hands or feet during childhood...[Read More] Understanding Lung Calcification: Causes, Concerns, and Health Implications
Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis: Symptoms, Concerns, and Care Options
Pulmonary fibrosis Dear Dr. Zhou, I am writing to seek your guidance regarding my mother, who is nearing her fifties and is over seventy-five years old. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis at a military hospital. Since then, her condition has gradually wor...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease characterized by the scarring of lung tissue, with many causes remaining unknown. Some cases are triggered by specific medications (such as certain antiarrhythmic drugs). Symptoms include shortness of breath, indicating declining...[Read More] Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis: Symptoms, Concerns, and Care Options
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Nutritional Needs and Recovery Time
Pleural effusion My grandfather is 85 years old. After catching a cold recently, he has been experiencing difficulty breathing. Upon examination, the doctor diagnosed him with pulmonary edema due to malnutrition. My grandfather has a poor appetite and is very picky with his food....
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Hello: Low levels of protein in the blood, particularly albumin, can lead to bilateral pleural effusion. Hospitalization for intravenous albumin administration is necessary, followed by diuretics to reduce pleural effusion. Once symptoms improve, it is essential to supplement die...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Nutritional Needs and Recovery Time
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Pleural effusion I would like to ask! How is pleural effusion formed? Can it cause abdominal pain? Is surgery and anesthesia required? How quickly can pleural effusion develop in a few days? Thank you!
Dr. Ke Zhengchang Reply:
Pleural effusion can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing and chest pain, while abdominal pain is less common. Generally, drainage can be performed using needle aspiration under local anesthesia. It is essential to identify the underlying cause (such as tuberculosis, lung ...[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Understanding Persistent Cough: Sinusitis and Breathing Issues Explained
Coughing I have been coughing continuously for over a month. I visited several clinics and initially thought it was a cold. Later, I went to a larger hospital for pulmonary function tests, and the results were normal, but there were abnormal breath sounds. The sputum culture show...
Dr. Ding Liangwen Reply:
If a cough persists for a month, the first step is to determine whether this has occurred previously or if there were cold symptoms a month ago, after which all other symptoms resolved but the cough remained. Additionally, it is important to note whether there is a fever, the col...[Read More] Understanding Persistent Cough: Sinusitis and Breathing Issues Explained
Understanding Tuberculosis Testing: Is a Chest X-Ray Enough?
Examination for Tuberculosis (TB) To check for tuberculosis (TB), is it sufficient to get a chest X-ray, or should other tests be performed? How long should the interval be between X-rays, as I recently had a chest X-ray and I'm concerned about potential negative effects on ...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Hello, netizen: Diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis requires a chest X-ray and sputum examination. It is essential to consult a specialist. The radiation dose from modern X-rays is very low; generally, it is safe for older adults to have one X-ray per year without any harm to the b...[Read More] Understanding Tuberculosis Testing: Is a Chest X-Ray Enough?
Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis and Calcification: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery
Lobar fibrotic calcification of the lungs? What are the causes? Can it be cured with treatment? How is it treated? Dear Dr. Jiang, My mother is 74 years old. Recently, during a health check-up, an X-ray revealed the presence of pulmonary lobe fibrotic calcification. May I ask yo...
Dr. Jiang Rongren Reply:
General fibrotic calcification is a scar resulting from chronic inflammation, which can be monitored. However, it cannot exclude conditions such as tuberculosis or interstitial lung disease. Therefore, it is recommended that the patient visit a pulmonology clinic for examination ...[Read More] Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis and Calcification: Causes, Treatment, and Recovery
Understanding Post-Pneumonia Symptoms: Causes and Concerns
Questions about pneumonia~ Four years ago, I had pneumonia, and after recovering, I didn't return for a follow-up appointment about a month later (not fully healed). Since then, whenever I engage in even a little exercise or when the temperature is slightly higher, I experie...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
These symptoms should not be related to the pneumonia from four years ago. You may have other thoracic conditions, such as asthma, that require further evaluation at a pulmonology clinic. Sincerely, Guo Lucheng.[Read More] Understanding Post-Pneumonia Symptoms: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Pneumothorax: Causes, Risks, and Treatment Options
Pneumothorax Doctor, I have a question. My brother (20 years old, male) experienced chest pain after taking a cold shower one night. Since it was late, he didn't tell us and waited until the morning to inform us. After he was examined at the hospital, the doctor said he has ...
Dr. Zhang Zhengda Reply:
Hello: Most young patients with pneumothorax have congenital alveolar rupture, which is unrelated to nasal allergies. The necessity for surgery must be clinically determined by a physician based on the severity of the pneumothorax, the potential for recovery, and whether there is...[Read More] Understanding Pneumothorax: Causes, Risks, and Treatment Options
Managing Drug Resistance in Small Cell Lung Cancer: Treatment Options and Care
Small cell lung cancer... after developing resistance to first-line chemotherapy? After the second chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer, the patient has developed increasing drug resistance. Although the rate of growth has slowed, it continues to progress. Would you recommend ...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
It is possible to switch to second-line medications; however, whether to consider other clinical trial medications should be discussed with your physician. Mucosal inflammation is a common complication of chemotherapy and will recover after discontinuation of the medication. Asid...[Read More] Managing Drug Resistance in Small Cell Lung Cancer: Treatment Options and Care
Understanding Asthma: Managing Symptoms and Concerns for Aging Parents
Asthma Hello, doctor. In recent months, I have noticed that my mother's asthma seems to be worsening. She mentioned that she had episodes of asthma when she was a child, but it was normal during adulthood (seemingly cured) until it recurred in the past two years. Initially, ...
Dr. Guo Lucheng Reply:
There are many causes of toe cramps, and a thorough investigation is necessary to determine the underlying reason, which may include electrolyte imbalances and may not necessarily be related to medications. Allergic predisposition can be hereditary, but the manifestation varies a...[Read More] Understanding Asthma: Managing Symptoms and Concerns for Aging Parents
Managing Theophylline Side Effects: When to Adjust Your Dosage
125 mg Theophylline Hello Dr. Jian: Due to prolonged recurrent colds, I developed bronchitis. After taking the bronchodilator prescribed by my doctor, I experienced nausea, dizziness, and palpitations. Given these adverse reactions, can I continue taking the medication, or should...
Dr. Jian Linzhen Reply:
THEOPHYLLINE has only a mild bronchodilator effect and has a narrow safety margin. The most common cardiac side effects are sinus tachycardia and ventricular ectopy. Elevated blood levels can lead to nausea, vomiting, tremors, tachycardia, and seizures. Additionally, even at norm...[Read More] Managing Theophylline Side Effects: When to Adjust Your Dosage