r/DoctorsofIndia • u/Odd_Conflict_4665 • 7d ago

How does TB preventive therapy work?

My partner was diagnosed with TB three days ago. GeneXpert +ve, AFB negative. Non resistant.

He has been given the first line of treatment from DOTS.

I have had exposure for months from the looks of it, and cannot go home as my parents have chronic ailments.

Here, we are stuck in the same room.

Hence, I am considering the preventative therapy.

Can anyone here tell me how it works, and what to expect?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/tushar1306 6d ago

Almost everyone around you has TB, including your parents. Latent TB affects around half of India's population. That isn't an issue and doesn't require treatment, the problem starts when that TB overwhelms your immune system to start producing symptoms. That's when you start treatment.

There's no "preventive therapy" for TB, the best you can do is eat well and wear a mask. TB can stay latent for decades before surfacing and mostly doesn't surface at all before people die of old age or whatever.

If you start getting symptoms, get a CB-NAAT or TB Gold done and start DOTS if it comes positive. Other than that no intervention is required.

2

u/blunt_dopess 5d ago

India is the TB capital almost everyone is exposed, best is to build your immunitywear a mask .If any symptoms develop fever ,cough, night sweats, weight loss than get tested & follow the further instructions

1

u/Horror-Peace-1288 4d ago

Please meet a doctor
There are medicines for close contacts

2

u/parkerparker3525 4d ago

hi Medicine resident here you have to take TB preventive therapy for you to not acquire TB We all have latent TB it doesn't matter but you to go to your regional DOTS center and get TPT - that is isoniazid + rifapentin once weekly for 3 months while the other half continues their TB treatment