Is inactive pulmonary tuberculosis contagious?
Oct 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Haiying
Introduction
In general, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is not contagious. Since inactive pulmonary tuberculosis lacks infectiousness, it does not transmit to others. Inactive pulmonary tuberculosis refers to residual lesions remaining after a previous tuberculosis infection, which have not been completely absorbed. On chest X-rays or lung CT scans, these may appear as fibrous streaks, calcified nodules, or hardened lesions.
In general, inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is not contagious. Inactive pulmonary tuberculosis does not possess infectious properties, so it will not spread to others. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Inactive pulmonary tuberculosis refers to residual lesions remaining after a previous tuberculosis infection, which have not been completely absorbed. On chest X-rays or lung CT scans, these appear as fibrous streaks, hardened nodules, or calcified lesions. These old lesions typically do not contain live tuberculosis bacteria, are not hereditary, and do not cause clinical symptoms; therefore, they are non-infectious.
However, it should be noted that inactive tuberculosis lesions cannot entirely rule out the presence of dormant tuberculosis bacteria. When a person's immunity is weakened, there is an increased risk of reactivation of tuberculosis. If previously inactive tuberculosis reactivates, dormant bacteria within the lesion may begin to replicate, leading to clinical symptoms such as worsening cough and sputum production. At this stage, the sputum may contain tuberculosis bacteria, making the condition contagious.
If a patient develops any symptoms, it is recommended to seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment.
