Tuberculosis is a curable disease with the proper treatment.
To detect it, your doctor will perform a physical examination that may show swollen lymph nodes, unusual breath sounds, or fluid around the lung. However, to confirm the diagnosis, they will likely order blood tests and specialized tests such as bronchoscopy, X-rays, CT scan, mucus tests and cultures, tuberculin skin test, and, if deemed necessary, a biopsy of the affected tissue.
If your results show latent tuberculosis, your doctor will tell you what medications you should take to reduce the risk of it becoming active.
In the case of active tuberculosis, the treatment will consist of attacking the infection through a combination of antibiotics (usually for six to nine months) to help determine which ones are ideal for your case, since many strains of tuberculosis are resistant to various drugs. Therefore, it is essential that you follow your doctor’s instructions to eradicate the disease.
The type, amount, and duration of treatment will depend on your health, drug resistance, and where the infection is.
Untreated tuberculosis can be fatal or cause other complications, such as:
- Specific arthritis.
- Meningitis.
- Severe liver and kidney problems.
- Heart problems.
- Back pain.
At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.
