A 40-year-old man presents to clinic with a chronic cough and night sweats. He recently arrived from a country with high tuberculosis prevalence. Ches...

Question

A 40-year-old man presents to clinic with a chronic cough and night sweats. He recently arrived from a country with high tuberculosis prevalence. Chest X-ray shows upper lobe infiltrates. What is the most appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Refer urgently to the TB service for assessment and sputum testing

Answer

Start empirical oral steroids

Answer

Reassure and treat as viral bronchitis

Answer

Advise no further action unless haemoptysis develops

Answer

Start broad-spectrum oral antibiotics for 3 days only

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Pulmonary tuberculosis

A 40-year-old man presents to clinic with a chronic cough and night sweats. He recently arrived from a country with high tuberculosis prevalence. Chest X-ray shows upper lobe infiltrates. What is the most appropriate next step?