Is it true that people with tuberculosis do not live long?

Generally speaking, the notion that people with tuberculosis do not live long is inaccurate. Most patients can fully recover through standardized treatment and their life expectancy remains unaffected. If any abnormalities occur, prompt medical attention is recommended. The detailed analysis is as follows:

For patients with early-stage or mild pulmonary tuberculosis, where the lesion range is small and symptoms are minor, timely standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment—such as using medications like isoniazid and rifampicin—typically leads to complete recovery within 6 to 9 months. After recovery, bodily functions return to normal, and life expectancy is no different from that of healthy individuals.

If the condition is severe or treatment is delayed, complications such as lung cavities, massive hemoptysis, or respiratory failure may develop. Additionally, coexisting conditions like diabetes or HIV infection increase treatment difficulty, potentially causing serious harm to the body. In such cases, survival time may be reduced to 5–15 years, and life may even be at risk.

After diagnosis, patients must strictly follow medical instructions and complete the full course of chemotherapy without stopping or skipping medication on their own. In daily life, wearing masks to prevent transmission, maintaining good indoor ventilation, ensuring adequate sleep and nutritional intake, and undergoing regular follow-up examinations—including chest CT scans and sputum smear tests—are essential for monitoring treatment effectiveness.