What to do about kidney tuberculosis

  In the case of renal tuberculosis, anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy and surgery are usually the appropriate treatment options.  Currently, chemotherapy for renal tuberculosis mainly uses first-line antituberculosis drugs for about six months. The first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs mainly consist of five types, including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, streptomycin and ethambutol. The first four drugs are relatively potent anti-tuberculosis bactericidal drugs, while the most commonly used are isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide. The consolidation phase can be extended appropriately in a few cases of more severe renal TB. Regular urine tests, ultrasound and bacteriological examinations should be performed during chemotherapy, and patients should be reviewed at 6 and 12 months after the completion of chemotherapy.  If the tuberculosis has resulted in complete loss of kidney function, destruction of more than two-thirds of the renal parenchyma and uncontrollable hypertension, with severe ureteral obstruction and normal function of the opposite kidney, the tuberculous kidney should be removed and some reconstructive surgery should be performed to maintain normal function.  In case of kidney tuberculosis, timely treatment is necessary, whether anti-tuberculosis treatment or surgery should be carried out under the guidance of a specialist.