Can you get tuberculosis on your own?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 07, 2024
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This question can be interpreted in two ways. First, whether every individual could potentially contract tuberculosis (TB) – to that, the answer is yes. Tuberculosis is a contagious disease, and we are all susceptible to the TB bacterium. Therefore, there is a chance, in our lifetimes, to be infected by the TB bacterium and consequently develop TB. The second interpretation revolves around whether a person could suddenly develop TB without specific reasons. Generally, this does not happen. In other words, a typical person would not contract TB unless they have been exposed to the TB bacterium. This means one does not contract TB arbitrarily; it occurs only after coming into contact with TB patients or the TB bacterium, leading to an infection in the lungs and resulting in TB.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 13sec home-news-image

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a disease where the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects the lungs. It is a persistent bacterium that grows slowly. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease and quite common historically, often referred to as consumption in the past, as mentioned in the novels of Lu Xun. In modern times, tuberculosis is relatively manageable if the infection has not developed resistance to drugs. Proper anti-tuberculosis treatment can result in a cure rate exceeding 90% on the first attempt. However, if the treatment is not adhered to correctly—if the patient stops taking the medication prematurely or does not follow the prescribed regimen—the bacteria may develop resistance, reducing the effectiveness of the treatment. This is particularly problematic in elderly patients, who might also experience adverse reactions to tuberculosis medications, making treatment difficult. Thus, while tuberculosis is generally treatable, infections with drug-resistant strains can be fatal if not managed properly.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is tuberculosis contagious?

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.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Does tuberculosis get inherited?

Is tuberculosis hereditary? Tuberculosis is not a hereditary disease; it is an infectious disease. Infectious diseases and hereditary diseases are two completely different concepts. Tuberculosis is generally infectious, which means that in a family, if parents are infected, they can easily transmit the tuberculosis bacteria to their children or others around them. Therefore, many people might mistakenly believe that tuberculosis is hereditary. However, this is not the case; tuberculosis is transmitted through the tuberculosis bacteria.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
1min 3sec home-news-image

How is tuberculosis treated?

The treatment of tuberculosis generally involves two aspects: etiological treatment and symptomatic management. Etiological treatment targets the tuberculosis bacteria with medication. Modern anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy regimens are quite mature, employing strategies such as early and combined use, appropriate dosing, regular administration, and full-course treatment, which result in a very high cure rate. Additionally, there is symptomatic management, for example, cough suppressants for patients with a cough, expectorants for those with excessive sputum, antipyretics if there is fever depending on the situation, and hemostatic drugs for patients coughing up blood, among others. The treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is comprehensive and must be conducted under the guidance of a physician. It is crucial not to interrupt treatment casually to avoid affecting the effectiveness of the therapy, increasing the recurrence rate, and the emergence of drug resistance.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
1min 10sec home-news-image

Can tuberculosis be cured completely?

Whether tuberculosis can be completely cured varies from person to person. Most cases of tuberculosis, especially initial occurrences of pulmonary tuberculosis, can be cured in more than 80 to 90 percent of patients if they undergo standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment. However, it is essential that the treatment is standardized; it is not appropriate to simply take medication for one or two months and then stop when symptoms seem to disappear. The treatment duration for pulmonary tuberculosis is considered to be at least six months, and for some patients, it may even extend to a year. However, not all cases of pulmonary tuberculosis can be completely cured. A small percentage of patients may not achieve complete eradication due to resistance to tuberculosis bacteria or intolerance to the side effects of tuberculosis medications. In such cases, the prognosis might be poor, and some individuals may succumb to tuberculosis due to these factors.