How To Treat Tuberculosis

1. Taking prescribed medicine

The home treatment for tuberculosis focuses on taking the medicines correctly to reduce the risk of developing multidrug-resistant TB. It is advised the patient should:

 

Keep regular follow-up with the doctor.

Take the medicines as prescribed.

Report any side effects of the medicines.

2. Eat healthy and exercise

During TB therapy, eating good foods, getting adequate sleep, and exercising help to combat the illness. A well-balanced meal with enough protein and calories can help you maintain your weight loss.

 

*Instead of a few large meals, eat smaller meals several times a day, and drink high-calorie protein shakes or other nutritional drinks in between meals.

 

*Take a cup of peppermint or ginger tea.

*Stay active by exercising. The best kind of exercise is walking.

 

3. Get a counselor to take care of emotional issues

As the TB treatment takes long, patients may have trouble coping.

Many patients often feel embarrassed about having TB, or feel isolated or depressed, or are worried about losing their job in the course of the treatment.

A counselor or social worker can help cope with such emotional issues.

 

4. Ensure you don’t spread the disease

A person infected with TB can easily spread the disease to others until he/she has been on antibiotics for about 2 weeks.

Undertake the following measures to prevent the spread of TB-

Do not go to work or school while the TB infection is in the active phase.

Ensure proper ventilation of the patient’s room.

Cover the mouth while sneezing or coughing. Dispose of the soiled tissues in a covered container or burn them.