Pulmonary tuberculosis

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Erythema nodosum associated with sarcoidosis	Miliary tuberculosis	Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan	Pulmonary nodule - front view chest X-ray
Respiratory system	Tuberculosis, advanced - chest X-rays	Tuberculosis in the kidney	Tuberculosis in the lung
Tuberculosis of the lungs

TB; Tuberculosis - pulmonary; Consumption

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection with antitubercular drugs. Daily oral doses of multiple drugs -- which may include combinations of rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, or occasionally others -- are continued until culture results show the drug sensitivity of the mycobacterial infection. This helps to guide the selection of drug therapy.

Treatment is typically continued for 6 months, but longer courses may be required for AIDS patients or those whose disease responds slowly. For atypical tuberculosis infections, or drug-resistant strains, other drugs and different lengths of therapy may be indicated to treat the infection.

Hospitalization may be indicated to prevent the spread of the disease to others until the contagious period has been resolved with drug therapy. Normal activity can be continued after the contagious period.

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

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.

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

All medications used to treat TB have some toxicity. Rifampin and isoniazid may both cause a non-infectious hepatitis. Rifampin may also cause an orange or brown coloration of tears and urine.

Those taking ethambutol should have their vision monitored, as this drug sometimes affects the eye. Any rash, abdominal pain, jaundice, or tingling in toes or fingers may be a sign of drug toxicity and should be reported to your doctor immediately.

Other complications include drug resistance to particular TB strains and a relapse of the disease in some patients.

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.

Review Date: 09/08/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by Allen J. Blaivas, D.O., Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University Hospital, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (5/6/2004).