How often should I have a lung CT scan?

How often should lung CT be reviewed? It is recommended to review after 3 months. If there are no changes, you may consider a 6 month review. If there are no changes, you can extend it to 1 year. If there are no changes within 3 years, there is no need to review. Try to have the nodule examined in the same hospital whenever possible. The doctor will write it on the CT list, and as long as there is a film, the respiratory physician will compare the size of the nodules. Regarding the radiation issue, a 3-month review is safer, don't worry too much.

tuberculosis

It is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common type of tuberculosis. Clinically, it can be roughly divided into four types: primary pulmonary tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis, infiltrative tuberculosis and cavitary tuberculosis. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis refers to the disease caused by the first infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In my country, 80% to 90% of lung infections occur through the respiratory tract. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis often has no obvious physical signs, and some are accompanied by mild systemic symptoms such as fatigue, low fever, loss of appetite, etc. If primary pulmonary tuberculosis is treated promptly and thoroughly, the prognosis is generally good. Miliary tuberculosis is caused by the spread of tuberculosis bacteria in the blood and is a serious disease. Infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis is generally considered to be the development of primary tuberculosis and is more common in adults who have been infected with tuberculosis. Cavitary tuberculosis is chronic tuberculosis due to delayed diagnosis and incomplete treatment. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis are diverse. In addition to the above symptoms, severe cases may have high fever and night sweats. It is best to achieve early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment. The preventive measures for tuberculosis are: develop good hygiene habits and do not spit, conduct regular lung health checks, isolate tuberculosis patients, and especially those living in collectives should be vaccinated with BCG. Development History

The "White Plague" of the 19th Century - Tuberculosis "Pale face, emaciated body, bursts of heart-wrenching coughing..." There is no shortage of such descriptions in 19th century novels and dramas. What caused these people to be in such a condition was tuberculosis, which was called the "white plague" at the time, or "consumption."

In the 19th century, countless people lost their loved ones or friends to this ruthless and highly contagious disease. Although the emergence of a variety of effective antibiotics and preventive drugs in the 20th century has led to a rapid reduction in tuberculosis cases worldwide, it would be a big mistake to relax our vigilance. The World Health Organization has warned that tuberculosis has been making a comeback around the world in recent years and that prevention and control of this infectious disease cannot be slackened.

In 1882, German scientist Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and divided it into four types: human, bovine, avian and murine. Among them, human bacteria is the main pathogen of human tuberculosis. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a highly contagious, chronic wasting disease caused mainly by the invasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the lungs. Common clinical manifestations include local and systemic symptoms such as cough, sputum, hemoptysis, chest pain, fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. More than 90% of pulmonary tuberculosis is transmitted through the respiratory tract. Patients spray contaminated fluid out of the body through coughing, sneezing, loud noises, etc., and healthy people will be infected after inhaling it.

In 1945, the advent of the effective drug streptomycin made tuberculosis no longer an incurable disease. Since then, the synthesis of drugs such as remdesivir, rifampicin, and ethambutol has significantly reduced the number of tuberculosis patients worldwide. In terms of prevention, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination and chemical prevention are the main methods. Among them, the advent of isoniazid in 1952 made chemical drug prevention a success. Isoniazid has strong bactericidal power, few side effects, and is economical, so it is easy to take. Taking it for 6 to 12 months can reduce the incidence of disease by 50% to 60% within 10 years.