Question:

Hi Doctor, I had an ectopic in April 2009, after 3 months I had undergone an HSG and the result came out that the right tube (in which the ectopic occurred) was blocked somewhere in the middle (no free spill seen though the tube was visible) and the left tube was not seen at all. Two weeks before I had undergone a test called endometrium suction and the PCR result came out to be positive. I am still awaiting the culture report. Few other tests have also been done out of which the S. Rubella IGG came out to be positive with a value of 62.2. Now I am on Anti TB medicines which are R-Cinex 600mg; Mycobutol 800mg; Pyrazinamide 1500mg; Benadon 40mg; Zinetac 150 and Udiliv 300mg/day. Plz tell me, what is the cause of TB in Fallopian Tubes? What are the precautions that I need to take? Is this TB transferable to my partner or the people staying with me? Can it harm my husband if I get physical with him? What food should I avoid with these medicines? And what food should I take that is good to minimize the effects of these medicines on my liver?

Answer:

Tuberculosis of the Fallopian Tubes is caused by the same bacteria that causes tuberculosis in the lung. All persons who develop tuberculosis in any part of the body get the infection after exposure to someone with TB in the lung. When the person who is sick coughs the germ gets into the air and then is transmitted to those around them. Once you breath the TB germ into your lungs for about 6-8 weeks the infection can reproduce in the lung, drain into the lymph nodes and get into the blood stream. Once in the blood stream the infection can lodge anywhere in the body. some examples include the kidney, the bones of the spine, the female reproductive organs.

About 6-8 weeks after exposure to TB our immune systems recognize the TB infection and control it. The infection then becomes dormant. For reasons that are unknown the infection can later wake up and cause disease. In your case the infection apparently woke up in the fallopian tube. As long as there is no infection in your lung, you cannot transmit tuberculosis to others. Sexual relations are perfectly safe. It is not possible to transmit tuberculosis this way.

The medications you describe are standard tuberculosis medications. There is no specific recommended diet, other than being sure you eat enough to remain strong and not lose weight.

For more information:

Go to the Tuberculosis health topic.