Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection with drugs that fight the tuberculosis bacteria. The intial treatment may involve a combination of many drugs. It is continued until lab tests show which medicine works best.

Treatment usually lasts for 6 months, but longer courses may be needed for persons with AIDS or whose disease responds slowly.

You may need to be admitted to a hospital to prevent the spread of the disease to others until you are no longer contagious.

Incomplete treatment of TB infections (such as failure to take medications for the prescribed length of time) can contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

Support Groups:

The stress of illness may be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.

See: Lung disease - support group

Expectations (prognosis):

Symptoms may improve in 2 to 3 weeks. A chest x-ray will not show this improvement until later. Prognosis is excellent if pulmonary TB is diagnosed early and treatment is begun.

Complications:

Pulmonary TB can cause permanent lung damage if not treated early.

Medicines used to treat TB may cause side effects, including non-infectious hepatitis and an orange or brown coloration of tears and urine.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have been exposed to tuberculosis, or if symptoms of TB develop.

Call your health care provider if symptoms persist despite treatment.

Also call if new symptoms develop, including indications that complications are developing.