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How Long Should Antibiotic Treatment For TB Be Continued?
Question: i am taking treatment of pulmonary t.b for past six months.streptomycin 1gm alternate day,ethambutol 1200mg daily and levofloxacin 750mg daily.as these drugs are least hepatoxic to me and i am also suffering from cryptogenic lever cirrohsis. all are doing well ,but only joint pain which is said to be due to side effects of drugs.my question is that doctor prescribed me only take streptomycin inj. for six moths and other drugs continue for total nine month time.but i learned that w.h.o recommend treatment for least hepatoxic drugs for 18-24 month time.please suggest me what i have to do?
Brief Answer:
Total duration of treatment should be at least 9 months.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
WHO guidelines says that treatment of tuberculosis in modified regimen should be given for atleast 9 months.
After 9 months of treatment patient should be evaluated for clinical improvement.
Parameters which suggest clinical improvement are
1. Weight gain
2. Absence of fever and cough
3. Negative sputum examination for AFB.
4. X ray improvement.
So after 9 months of treatment, assessment should be done in your case.
If all these parameters are favouring than you can definitely stop treatment after 9 months.
But if these parameters are not favouring than take oral drugs for 3 more months and reassess after 12 months.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Total duration of treatment should be at least 9 months.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
WHO guidelines says that treatment of tuberculosis in modified regimen should be given for atleast 9 months.
After 9 months of treatment patient should be evaluated for clinical improvement.
Parameters which suggest clinical improvement are
1. Weight gain
2. Absence of fever and cough
3. Negative sputum examination for AFB.
4. X ray improvement.
So after 9 months of treatment, assessment should be done in your case.
If all these parameters are favouring than you can definitely stop treatment after 9 months.
But if these parameters are not favouring than take oral drugs for 3 more months and reassess after 12 months.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
should i stop streptomycin injection now or after nine months ,along with oral drugs?thanks
Brief Answer:
Stop streptomycin injections now.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
You have taken streptomycin for six months.
So it is better to stop streptomycin injection.
Continue levofloxacin and ethambutol for next three months.
And get done repeat chest x ray and sputum examination for AFB to decide future course of treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Stop streptomycin injections now.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your situation and problem.
You have taken streptomycin for six months.
So it is better to stop streptomycin injection.
Continue levofloxacin and ethambutol for next three months.
And get done repeat chest x ray and sputum examination for AFB to decide future course of treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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