Can tuberculosis be cured?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on May 21, 2025
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Can tuberculosis be cured? First, we need to understand that tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In recent decades, many drugs have been developed for anti-tuberculosis treatment. As long as one strictly follows the doctor's advice and adheres to the medication schedule, the vast majority of tuberculosis cases can be completely cured. However, it is crucial to recognize that the treatment duration for tuberculosis is lengthy. Typically, patients need at least six months, while those with recurrent tuberculosis might need eight months. Some patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis may even need to take medication for two years. Therefore, it is essential to undergo standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment. Nevertheless, some patients, due to non-adherence to medical advice, irregular medication intake, or discontinuation of treatment on their own without completing the full course, may face treatment failure. In severe cases, this can lead to multidrug resistance, significantly prolonging the treatment duration and drastically reducing the cure rate, and may even cause infertility. Additionally, some patients may experience severe adverse reactions to tuberculosis drugs, such as significant liver and kidney damage, or have comorbidities like diabetes, liver cirrhosis, or HIV/AIDS. Others may develop severe complications, such as cardiopulmonary disease or respiratory failure, which greatly reduce their chances of recovery and can even lead to death.

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Written by Yuan Lin Yan
Infectious Disease
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How long can someone with tuberculosis live?

Early detection and appropriate anti-tuberculosis treatment of tuberculosis can lead to a normal lifespan once cured. However, it is important to exercise regularly and enhance immunity, since tuberculosis may recur if the body's resistance decreases. With the increase of drug-resistant tuberculosis, treatment difficulties have intensified. If it is detected late or not treated properly and the lung damage progresses to an advanced stage, it can be life-threatening, with survival ranging from days to years. When tuberculosis involves massive hemoptysis, death can occur at any time due to suffocation or hemorrhagic shock, depending on the specific condition.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Is tuberculosis contagious?

Tuberculosis (TB) is only infectious in some patients who have a large amount of tubercle bacilli in their sputum. In fact, many patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis are not infectious. For more patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, tubercle bacilli cannot be found in their sputum, so the actual situation must be considered. In fact, to determine if pulmonary tuberculosis is infectious, it is simple: look for acid-fast bacilli in the sputum. If the sputum acid-fast staining is positive, it indicates infectiousness. Infectious pulmonary tuberculosis requires systematic and standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Can people with tuberculosis drink alcohol?

Whether patients with tuberculosis can drink alcohol, first of all, it is important to know that tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease and a consumptive disease that consumes the body's calories. Drinking alcohol can affect the body's absorption of energy. Moreover, most patients with tuberculosis need to take anti-tuberculosis medication, most of which are metabolized through the liver and can cause varying degrees of liver damage. Drinking alcohol can exacerbate liver damage and reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Additionally, since there are many types of anti-tuberculosis medications for tuberculosis patients, some medications may cause adverse reactions when drinking alcohol. Therefore, all tuberculosis patients must strictly abstain from drinking alcohol during treatment.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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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 Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
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Is tuberculosis contagious?

Firstly, pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious, but it also depends on the type. Generally, pulmonary tuberculosis is most contagious during its active phase, but some patients with fibrosis and in a stable phase are not contagious. The transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis is mainly through droplets, spread by talking, sneezing, or spitting from a tuberculosis patient to a healthy person. However, this droplet transmission has a distance requirement. We believe that a distance of more than 1 meter is relatively safe, and 2 meters is absolutely safe. To prevent the transmission of tuberculosis, it is essential to maintain a distance from tuberculosis patients, wear masks, and ensure frequent ventilation by opening windows.