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Disseminated tuberculosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Miliary tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - disseminated; Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection with antitubercular drugs. These drugs include: pyrazinamide, isoniazid (INH), rifampin, ethambutol, ethionamide, para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), amikacin, and streptomycin. Daily oral doses are continued for 1 year or longer.

For atypical tuberculosis infections, or drug-resistant strains, other drugs may be indicated to treat the infection. A minimum of three drugs are started for treatment.

Hospitalization may be necessary to prevent the spread of the disease to others until the infectious period is over, usually 2-4 weeks after the start of therapy. Normal activity can be continued after the infectious period.

Expectations (prognosis):

Most disseminated forms of TB respond well to treatment.

Complications:

All medications used to treat TB have some toxicity. Rifampin, pyrazinamide, and isoniazid may cause a non-infectious liver inflammation. Rifampin may also cause an orange or brown coloration of tears and urine, and can stain contact lenses and undergarments. Ethambutol may reduce visual acuity or cause color blindness.

Other complications include:

• drug resistance
• relapse of the disease
• tuberculous meningitis
• respiratory failure
• adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if known or suspected exposure to TB has occurred. All forms of TB require prompt treatment.

• Review Date: 2/13/2006
• Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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