Current medical treatment for tuberculosis
BMJ 2002; 325 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7375.1282 (Published 30 November 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;325:1282Data supplement
Information for patients Tuberculosis is an infection caused by a bacterium
The bacterium primarily invades the lungs, but the disease can affect many other organs
The infection spreads when a patient with lung disease coughs bacteria into the air; these microbes may be inhaled by people who share the air with the patient
In general, tuberculosis is not highly communicable; it usually takes weeks or months of contact before people are infected. However, sometimes the disease can be spread to others who casually share the air. Therefore, the World Health Organization states that patients with communicable forms of tuberculosis should be treated
Life-long cure of patients infected with tubercle bacilli that are susceptible to drugs can generally be assured with a six month course of drugs, provided the drugs are taken as prescribed. Drugs should be taken for the recommended time, even after symptoms are no longer present
Although there are modest side effects from drugs used to treat tuberculosis, serious toxicity is rare and is readily managed if reported promptly
Additional information
American Lung Association. State of the Air 2002. www.lungusa.org/diseases/tbhivfac.html (accessed 13 September 2002).
Johns Hopkins Center for Tuberculosis Research. www.hopkins-tb.org (accessed 13 September 2002).
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