Is tuberculosis in the recovery phase contagious?
Oct 18, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lu Haiying
Introduction
In general, patients in the recovery phase of tuberculosis are not contagious. During this period, they usually do not expel sputum containing tuberculosis bacteria, so they are not infectious. Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can affect many organs, most commonly the lungs. It is somewhat contagious, and the source of infection is patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis who have positive sputum tests for tuberculosis bacteria.
In general, patients in the recovery phase of tuberculosis are not contagious. During the recovery period, tuberculosis patients typically do not expel sputum containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and therefore are not infectious. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can affect many organs, most commonly the lungs. It is somewhat contagious, with individuals who have sputum test results positive for tuberculosis bacteria serving as the main source of infection. The disease is usually transmitted via respiratory droplets. During the recovery phase, as the patient's immune system improves and anti-tuberculosis medications are properly administered in combination, the number of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria gradually decreases and inflammatory responses diminish. Typically, patients no longer produce sputum containing tuberculosis bacteria at this stage, so they are no longer contagious.
To determine whether a patient has fully recovered, a chest radiographic examination or sputum culture test can be performed at a hospital. If the sputum test result is negative, it indicates that the patient is no longer infectious.
If a patient experiences any discomfort or symptoms, it is recommended to seek timely medical attention at a hospital to avoid delays in treatment.
