There are safe and effective treatments to cure both latent TB infection and active TB disease.

Treatment for Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

When a person has been diagnosed with Latent TB Infection (LTBI), taking treatment is the best way to protect against getting sick with active TB. Preventing the progression from LTBI to TB disease helps decrease the spread of TB because people can only infect others when they have active disease. 

Without treatment, 1 in 10 people with LTBI will get sick with active TB disease at some point in their life. For some people, the risk can be much higher if they take certain medications or have underlying health conditions that weaken their immune system. People with LTBI should speak with a provider about their diagnosis, their risk, and the benefits of treatment. 

LTBI Treatment Options

There are several LTBI treatment plans available. The decision to treat LTBI and the decision about which medication regimen to use, must be made in consultation with a health care provider. In Vermont, LTBI testing, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment occurs in the community setting with health care providers like primary care providers or infectious disease clinicians. 

Treatment for LTBI can take 3 to 9 months depending on which regimen is selected. TB germs are strong, and it takes a long time for them to die. People taking treatment medications must take the therapy exactly as directed by their health care provider. People on LTBI therapy should be monitored by their provider to ensure they are tolerating the medications and adhering to the treatment plan. If people are uninsured or underinsured and cost is a barrier to treatment, the Health Department can supply TB medications at no cost to the client. 

Read more information about treatment for LTBI. 

LTBI Medication Tracking

Treatment plans can be overwhelming and hard to track. Use these resources to help:

Treatment for Active TB Disease

When a person has been diagnosed with TB disease it means they have active TB germs in their body that are multiplying and making them sick. If the germs are in their throat or lungs, it is possible for them to spread the germs to people they spend time with on a regular basis. Without treatment, TB disease is a serious illness and can be fatal.

TB germs are not easy to kill, people with TB disease need to take several different medications over a long period of time to ensure all the TB germs are killed. Treatment typically lasts from 4 to 9 months but may be longer. Length of treatment is determined by the medical provider based on several factors.

People often feel better soon after starting TB treatment. However, if medications are stopped too soon, or not taken as directed, a person can become sick again. The TB germs still alive in their body may become resistant to medication and harder to treat. People taking medication for TB disease must take the medications exactly as prescribed by their health care provider.

Learn more about drug-resistant TB

TB Treatment in Vermont

In Vermont, treatment for TB disease is prescribed by a specialty provider in the community who works closely with the Vermont Department of Health Tuberculosis Program. Each person receiving treatment is assigned a TB nurse case manager from the Health Department. The nurse comes to the person’s home, or another selected location to meet with the client. During the visit, the nurse provides education, looks for symptoms, monitors any medication side effects, and witnesses medication administration. Witnessing medication administration is called Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and is the standard of care for TB treatment throughout the United States. The public health nurse remains in communication with the TB medical provider during treatment. This system of case management helps TB clients stay on track with their TB medications, get the support they need while being treated, and provides close monitoring to ensure the treatment is safe and effective. The Department of Health supplies TB medications at no cost to the client during treatment. 

Learn more about TB disease treatment 

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing is a very important piece of TB prevention. People are at greater risk of progressing to active disease if they have been infected recently (within 2 years). Certain contacts have an even higher risk of progressing to active disease if they have a hard time fighting infections. Examples of these high-risk contacts include people who have a weak immune system because of medications or other health conditions, and children under 5 years of age. During contact tracing, the Health Department interviews people with active infectious TB to determine who they have had contact with while infectious. If a person is identified as one of these contacts, the Health Department reaches out to them to discuss the exposure and direct them to testing. The Health Department works to protect the identity and health information of the person with TB disease and provides TB testing free of charge to contacts identified as being recommended for testing. Identifying people who have been recently infected and ensuring they have access to treatment is vital to preventing further spread of TB illness in the community.

Keep a Record of Your Treatment

Whether you’re being treated for active TB disease or LTBI, it is important to keep a record of your treatment completion. Ask your provider for a written record that you have finished treatment. This record should include the location of treatment, treatment dates, medication regimen, and most up to date chest image.

Support During Treatment

Completing treatment for TB takes a long time and can be difficult. Getting support from friends and family is important. Some people being treated for TB disease find support by connecting with others who have had shared experiences. We are TB, and Somos TB for Spanish-speakers, are communities of TB survivors, people being treated for TB, and their family members, committed to the common goal of eliminating TB. These groups provide comprehensive peer support for current TB patients and TB clinics. 

Read some personal stories about TB (CDC) 

Special Considerations For TB Treatment

People with HIV                                    

People living with HIV who have TB disease or a latent TB infection can be treated effectively. Anyone with HIV should be tested for TB. If the results indicate a TB infection, further tests must be performed to distinguish latent TB infection from TB disease.

People diagnosed with a latent TB infection who also have HIV are much more likely to develop TB disease and should receive treatment for a latent TB infection from their health care provider.

Learn more about treatment for TB when you have HIV (CDC)

During Pregnancy

Pregnant people diagnosed with TB disease should start treatment as soon as TB is detected. Although the TB drugs used in treatment cross the placenta, these drugs do not appear to have harmful effects on the baby. Babies born to women with untreated TB disease may have lower birth weight than those babies born to women without TB.

Learn more about TB treatment and care when you're pregnant (CDC)

Children

Children infected with the TB bacteria are more likely to develop TB disease than adults. If a child has been diagnosed with active or latent TB, a pediatric TB expert should be involved in their treatment. TB disease in children is treated with antibiotic medicine for 6 to 9 months. Parents should ensure that the child takes the medication exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

What Parents Need to Know about TB in Children (CDC)

People with Diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to develop active TB disease and become sick once infected with TB germs than people without diabetes. People with inactive TB can be treated to prevent active TB disease.

Learn more about TB risk and people with Diabetes (CDC)

Topics:
Infectious Diseases
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