| The treatment of tuberculosis lasts a long | | | | appetite, nausea, skin rashes and intense |
| period of time, from six to nine months but | | | | itching. Generally Pyrazinamide is |
| it gives remarkably good results in patients. | | | | recommended only in the first two months of |
| Only in some cases drugs are not bared by the | | | | treatment but make sure you inform the doctor |
| patient and side effects appear. In order to | | | | if any of these symptoms occur to you. |
| prevent them from happening the doctor | | | | |
| monitorizes closely the evolution of the | | | | If the patient takes other medication he must |
| patient by performing blood, urine tests and | | | | report this thing to the doctor because some |
| thoracic x-rays. | | | | pills might interfere with the |
| | | | anti-tuberculosis treatment and others might |
| The doctor must be announced when nausea, | | | | not be effective if they get in contact with |
| vomiting, fever and jaundice appear. Some | | | | the anti-tuberculosis pills. |
| patients might develop a skin rash and | | | | |
| bruises from the drugs, others might feel | | | | The treatment must be followed as prescribed |
| numbness in hands or feet and others might | | | | and taken for the period of time the doctor |
| have visual problems. The doctor needs to be | | | | tells you so. Even if the patient feels |
| informed if these kinds of situations appear | | | | better the treatment must be continued until |
| because he will change the treatment and will | | | | the six months have passed because the germs |
| replace the harmful drugs with others | | | | that have cause tuberculosis are not killed |
| suitable for the patient. | | | | until the treatment is done and they might |
| | | | continue to infect the patient and the people |
| In the process of treating tuberculosis, | | | | who come in close contact with the patient. |
| doctors use certain drugs that might give | | | | Also, by taking the pills irregularly, the |
| certain side effects. For example, Isoniazid | | | | drug resistance might install and the doctor |
| can be responsible for the loss of appetite, | | | | will have to change the treatment in order to |
| for nausea, and for tingling in the hands and | | | | make it effective again but the options are |
| feet. Rifampicin can interfere with | | | | not numerous and the doctor will not have any |
| contraceptive pills treatment reducing their | | | | more separate drugs to replace the others in |
| effect and can also stain the contact lenses | | | | a short while. |
| of the patient. Ethambutol is known to cause | | | | |
| visual problems so if you follow such a | | | | It is important for the patient not to drink |
| treatment you will periodically be checked by | | | | any alcohol during the treatment as it can |
| an ophthalmologist to determine whether you | | | | interfere with the drugs and cause toxicity, |
| can continue the treatment with Ethambutol or | | | | affecting the liver. |
| not. Pyrazinamide can cause a loss of | | | | |