What is the treatment for TB?
Nowadays, the treatment for TB is very effective. The great
majority of TB patients can be cured with drug treatment.
The TB & Chest Service of the Department of Health provides
treatment to patients free of charge. The usual course of drug
treatment lasts 6 months:
- - Four drugs in the first 2 months: isoniazid,
rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol
- - Two drugs in the subsequent 4 months: isoniazid, rifampicin
The drugs are taken either daily or three times per week.
They have to be given under direct observation (DOT, directly
observed treatment) by health-care staff. Regular drug
treatment is a pre-requisite for treatment success. In certain
circumstances, the doctor may have to modify the drug
treatment to suit the particular needs of individual patients.
The great majority of patients can be considered as
non-infectious after 2 weeks of effective drug treatment.
If the treatment is
taken irregularly, there may be serious
consequences:
- - the TB germs become resistant to the drugs
- - the disease cannot be cured
- - the disease can be spread to others
- - death
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