Question

A 28-year-old Inuit woman living in a remote community presents with a 3-week history of cough, night sweats and weight loss. Several family members were treated for pulmonary tuberculosis in the past. According to the Canadian Tuberculosis Standards, what is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Order a chest radiograph and sputum for acid-fast bacilli and molecular testing

Answer

Reassure and treat as a viral upper respiratory infection

Answer

Perform a tuberculin skin test only and, if positive, treat as latent TB infection

Answer

Delay investigations because TB is rare in Canada

Answer

Start broad-spectrum oral antibiotics for presumed pneumonia without investigations

Practice question

A 28-year-old Inuit woman living in a remote community presents with a 3-week history of cough, night sweats and weight loss. Several family members were treated for pulmonary tuberculosis in the past. According to the Canadian Tuberculosis Standards, what is the most appropriate next step?