I am a 35 year old male and a Tubercular Lymphodenitis was detected through biopsy of lymph nodes in the neck in April 2011. I am taking medicine since last 40 days. But my lymph nodes in neck are started enlarging and giving lots of pain and also, started discharging one of the lymph node. I am not sure whether I am responding to the treatment or not. Please let me know how long it takes for lymph nodes to go back to its normal size?
Hello sir. I did review your concern. This is a very difficult question to answer. Generally with proper treatment the tuberculous lymph node shrinks in size, but if it has already become fibrotic and calcified as seen with chronic lesion of tuberculosis, it does not shrink to its normal size and takes years to get normal. But the important thing is that, with proper treatment these lymph nodes although you look slightly big they are treated microbiologically and pathologically. So there is nothing to worry about. They contain fibrosis and old granulomas and some calcified material which is noneffective. My advice would be to continue regular tuberculosis treatment for designated 6 months period and in most case scenario it will shrink. I hope this helps. Thank you for using Chat Doctor. Wish you all the best.