What should I do if my condition worsens after taking medication for pulmonary tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis may worsen after starting medication. Immediate re-evaluation of the condition, testing for drug resistance, adjusting treatment plans, enhancing symptomatic support, and strictly following medical instructions are essential. Proper management is key to preventing disease progression. If emergencies such as persistent high fever, difficulty breathing, or increased coughing up of blood occur, seek immediate medical attention.

1. Immediate re-evaluation: Return promptly to an infectious disease or respiratory specialist for follow-up. Use chest X-rays, CT scans, sputum tests, and other examinations to determine the cause of worsening symptoms—whether due to the natural course of the disease or treatment-related issues—to avoid delayed intervention.

2. Test for drug resistance: The bacteria causing tuberculosis may have developed resistance to the prescribed medications, leading to ineffective treatment and worsening of the disease. Sputum culture and drug susceptibility testing are required to identify the specific type of resistance and guide adjustments in therapy.

3. Adjust treatment plan: Based on re-evaluation results and drug resistance profiles, doctors will replace medications with those to which the bacteria are sensitive or increase the number of combined drugs to ensure effective elimination of tuberculosis bacteria. Do not discontinue or change medications on your own.

4. Enhance symptomatic and supportive care: Follow medical advice to use cough suppressants, hemostatic agents, and antipyretics to relieve worsening symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, and fever. Ensure adequate nutrition to boost immunity and support recovery.

5. Strictly adhere to medical instructions: Review whether there have been missed doses, incorrect dosing, or dose reductions. Going forward, take medications exactly as prescribed—on schedule, in full dose, and for the complete duration—to prevent worsening of the disease or development of drug resistance due to improper use.

Maintain a well-ventilated living environment, wear a mask to prevent spreading infection to others, ensure sufficient sleep and a high-protein diet, avoid fatigue and cold exposure, refrain from intense physical activity, and maintain emotional stability to create optimal physical conditions for recovery.