The treatment

In almost every case TB can be cured, but only if the full course of treatment is taken as prescribed for a minumum of 6 months. 

People with TB rarely need to stay in hospital, although they may be admitted very briefly to confirm the diagnosis and start the treatment. Patients will be under the outpatient care of a respiratory/TB nurse who will ensure the treatment is taken correctly and will sort out any problems.

The standard treatment for TB is a combination of three or four antibiotics for a period of two months and then two antibiotics for a further four months.  The four main antibiotics for treating TB are called ISONIAZID, RIFAMPICIN, PYRAZINAMIDE and ETHAMBUTOL.  RIFATER AND RIFINAH are single tablets which contain a combination of drugs to make it easier for the patient. 

It is important to have a combination of antibiotics to reduce the risk of the bacteria becoming resistant to one or more of the drugs.  Even so, resistance to TB drugs is growing.  It is of concern that a disease which still represents the commonest cause of death from a single infectious agent is becoming resistant to treatment.The main cause of drug resistant TB is incomplete treatment, either because the drugs were not prescribed or not taken correctly or because treatment was interrupted.

Sometimes longer courses of treatment are needed, for example for TB meningitis, or if the bacteria are resistant to one or more of the antibiotics and different drugs need to be used.

Once treatment has started, people normally become non-infectious after about two weeks and begin to feel better after two to four weeks, but at least six months treatment is required to cure the disease.

Side effects

Rifampicin will turn urine and other body secretions such as tears orangy-red. It also interacts with other medicines, in particular it reduces the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. It is therefore important to warn your doctor when prescribing other medicines that you are on TB treatment.

The tablets may rarely cause some of these:

• Rash
• Giddiness
• Sickness
• Pins and Needles
• Jaundice

If any of these symptoms occur, patients should contact their TB nurse or doctor