Is tuberculosis contagious?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

Updated on December 24, 2024

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Actually, not all cases of tuberculosis are contagious; only those in which tuberculosis bacteria can be found in the sputum are infectious. Many cases are non-infectious.

Among all cases of active tuberculosis, only about 30% have detectable tuberculosis bacteria in their sputum. The remaining 70% do not have detectable tuberculosis bacteria and thus are not contagious.

Whether tuberculosis is contagious or not, once the diagnosis of tuberculosis is confirmed, scientific and rational comprehensive anti-tuberculosis treatment is required.

Other Voices

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

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Does tuberculosis cause coughing?

Do tuberculosis patients cough? Most tuberculosis patients can experience coughing, and the duration of the cough is generally quite long, often exceeding two to three weeks and in some cases even reaching over six months to a year. However, there is also a small number of patients who might not cough due to the different types of tuberculosis they have. Additionally, not all cases of coughing indicate tuberculosis. A tuberculosis patient might cough, but they might also not cough, and while a person who coughs could possibly have tuberculosis, not all coughs are due to tuberculosis. There is no definitive equivalence between tuberculosis and coughing. I hope this explanation helps you understand the relationship between tuberculosis and coughing. Thank you.

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What department should tuberculosis patients visit?

For tuberculosis, you can visit the Department of Infectious Diseases. Infectious diseases or respiratory medicine are suitable options, and if a hospital doesn't have these specialized departments, you can consider visiting the Center for Disease Control. In smaller hospitals, below the secondary level, where such specific departments may not be available, you might also consider seeing the Department of General Internal Medicine. General Internal Medicine or typical internal medicine departments can also handle this. However, our first recommendation would still be the Respiratory Medicine Department. Some hospitals combine Infectious Diseases with other related departments, making them the preferred choice for tuberculosis patients as these departments likely have the most experience in treating such diseases.

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Written by Han Jian Hua

Infectious Disease

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Can tuberculosis be cured?

Early diagnosis and standard treatment can often cure tuberculosis. Tuberculosis requires anti-tuberculosis treatment. Effective anti-tuberculosis treatment must follow five principles: early intervention, proper dosage, combination therapy, regular administration, and full-course treatment to ensure thorough treatment. Consistency is crucial; one must not stop taking medication, substitute drugs, or alter dosages on their own, as doing so not only makes it difficult to cure the disease but also increases the risk of developing drug resistance and complicates treatment further. Additionally, it is important to supplement nutrition appropriately and maintain a healthy diet in daily life. Since tuberculosis is a chronic, debilitating disease, it is advisable to consume foods rich in calories, proteins, and vitamins. Ensuring adequate rest and sleep is vital. Engaging in moderate physical activities, such as outdoor exercises, while avoiding strenuous activities and factors that could exacerbate conditions, such as overexertion, exposure to cold, and catching a cold, is also important.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

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Local symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis

The local symptoms of tuberculosis primarily require us to understand where tuberculosis occurs. Currently, tuberculosis in the lung tissues, trachea, bronchi, and pleura are all classified as pulmonary tuberculosis. The primary local symptoms are still respiratory symptoms, with the most common being cough and expectoration. Patients with tuberculosis generally have a slow onset, with most experiencing cough and expectoration that can persist for two weeks or more. Some patients may also exhibit symptoms like blood in the sputum or hemoptysis. Additionally, some patients may experience other symptoms; for example, those with pleural involvement might have irritative cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, while those with tracheobronchial involvement might exhibit a prolonged irritative cough. Some patients may also develop bronchial stenosis, which can lead to difficulty breathing.

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Pulmonology

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How is tuberculosis treated?

The primary treatment for tuberculosis is still chemotherapy, also simply called chemo, but the chemotherapy for tuberculosis is completely different from the anti-tumor chemotherapy we talk about in cancer, and the medications are also completely different. There are about more than ten anti-tuberculosis drugs, which can be divided into first-line and second-line drugs, and currently, there are third-line drugs under research. Chemotherapy for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis should be started early and administered in combination. The types of combined medication for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis generally involve three or more drugs. Some patients may exhibit drug resistance or intolerance to some drugs' side effects, and thus, second-line drugs may be used. Additionally, some patients, due to special conditions, may require four or five types of anti-tuberculosis drugs. It is crucial to strictly follow medical advice regarding how to medicate and treat. Furthermore, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis must ensure complete medication adherence, as the treatment duration for tuberculosis is quite long, typically requiring at least six months, and some patients may need one or even two years. Regular medication intake is very important because some patients might experience symptoms like coughing up blood or others, such as those with pleurisy, who might develop pleural effusion. Therefore, treatments targeted at other symptoms are necessary. Patients who cough up blood might need hemostatic drugs, while those with severe hemoptysis may even require interventional surgery. Some with tuberculous pleurisy might need to have pleural effusion drained. Additionally, some patients with pulmonary tuberculosis might experience adverse reactions to medications, such as liver or kidney failure, visual impairment, or numbness in the hands, which would require adjustments to their medication or changes based on their complications. Treatment should also be targeted toward these adverse reactions.