Latent TB Treatment
According to the Centers for Disease Control, you can be infected with the bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that cause tuberculosis but not be sick, show symptoms or be contagious to others. This is because the bacteria has not become active. However, you can get sick in the future, so your doctor may decide to start you on preventative treatment. The CDC states: "The medicine usually taken for the treatment of latent TB infection is called isoniazid (INH). INH for nine months is the preferred regimen." Children and individuals with compromised immune systems may need longer treatment.
Active Tuberculosis Treatment
If you have a high amount of active bacteria in your body and you develop tuberculosis, then you will need a combination of medications for approximately six to nine months. However, the Centers for Disease Control claim that it can take up to one full year to kill the bacteria. After the first few weeks, you are usually no longer contagious. According to the American Lung Association, your doctor may prescribe a combination of isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. These medications are antibiotics that can kill the bacteria that causes TB. The exact dosage and medications used are decided on an individual basis.
Education and Hospitalization
The National Institutes of Health claim that when effectively treated, approximately 90 percent of patients recover. Since patient compliance is essential, your doctor may want you to stay in the hospital. This will ensure you take the medications properly and your doctor can monitor your response to them. If you stop the medication too early, the bacteria that cause TB can become resistant to the drugs and the disease can come back stronger. Without the right treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal.
Treatment for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
If your TB becomes drug-resistant and does not respond to the initial medications, you will need additional treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control, this is complicated to treat. The first step is to perform a test to discover what medications will not work, but this process can take weeks. The CDC states: "When the testing results are known, the treatment regimen should be adjusted according to the results. Patients should be monitored closely throughout treatment."
