Tuberculosis treatment: Don't stop treatment as soon as you feel better.

Many tuberculosis patients, after a few weeks of medication when their symptoms improve, hastily stop treatment. However, according to specialists, this is a dangerous mistake, not only causing the disease to relapse but also increasing the incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis – one of the major challenges today.

Adherence to the treatment protocol is a crucial factor in treatment success.

Treating tuberculosis is not simply about taking medication until the cough or fever subsides, but rather a rigorous process requiring strict adherence to the treatment regimen. According to professional recommendations, the principle of tuberculosis treatment is based on a combination of multiple medications, using the correct dosage according to weight, taking them regularly every day, and for the prescribed duration.

Typically, with susceptible tuberculosis, patients undergo two phases: an intensive phase and a maintenance phase, lasting approximately six months. The first phase aims to quickly eliminate the bacteria, while the second phase helps to "cleanse" any remaining bacteria, preventing recurrence. Medication should be taken at a fixed time, preferably on an empty stomach, for optimal absorption.

In reality, many patients, after 1-2 weeks of treatment, notice an improvement in appetite, weight gain, and reduced coughing, leading them to carelessly discontinue medication. This is quite common in the community. Some people think that "the absence of symptoms means recovery," but in fact, the tuberculosis bacteria still remain in the body. If medication is stopped prematurely, the tuberculosis bacteria have the opportunity to develop into drug-resistant strains.

To ensure patients do not discontinue treatment, the healthcare sector is currently implementing the DOTS strategy – meaning patients are monitored and supervised directly by healthcare professionals or collaborators regarding medication intake. This is considered a "key" to improving treatment success rates.

Abandoning treatment: Consequences not only for the individual.

According to Dr. Tran Quang Dung, Deputy Director of the Ca Mau Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital: Stopping medication prematurely is the leading cause of drug-resistant tuberculosis. This leads to a much longer and more complicated treatment process, potentially lasting 9-20 months with stronger, more expensive drugs, and significantly increases the risk of death.

Furthermore, incomplete treatment can leave severe sequelae in the lungs. The damage can spread, causing impaired respiratory function and long-term effects on the patient's health and quality of life.

More worryingly, patients who discontinue treatment continue to be a source of infection in the community. A person with tuberculosis, especially drug-resistant tuberculosis, can infect many people around them if left unchecked. Meanwhile, after only about two weeks of proper treatment, the risk of transmission is significantly reduced.

During treatment, if side effects such as nausea, fatigue, or jaundice occur, patients should not stop taking the medication on their own but should immediately inform their doctor so that the medication can be adjusted appropriately. Regular follow-up appointments, combined with proper nutrition and psychological support, also play an important role in helping the body adapt well to the medication.

Tuberculosis is completely curable if the patient perseveres and adheres to treatment until the end. Conversely, even a slight lapse in judgment or stopping medication prematurely can result in a long and arduous treatment process with many risks ahead.

Source: https://soyte.camau.gov.vn/bai-khoa-hoc-chinh-tri-va-xa-hoi/dieu-tri-lao-dung-dung-lai-khi-vua-thay-khoe-hon-298142