How soon can tuberculosis be cured?

  The course of TB treatment varies from person to person, ranging from 6-9 months for primary treatment to up to 1-2 years for drug-resistant TB.  The ease of TB treatment is closely related to the type of TB, autoimmune status, and the degree of antibiotic sensitivity. For patients with primary TB, 2 months of intensive treatment with a combination of isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide is required; the consolidation period is 4-7 months depending on the patient’s treatment duration, with a combination of isoniazid and rifampin. Therefore, the duration of treatment for primary TB is around 6-9 months. In case of recurrent TB, it takes about 9-12 months using a sensitive drug regimen. For drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, treatment is difficult and requires a combination of multiple anti-tuberculosis drugs and standardized treatment based on Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture as well as drug sensitivity test results, and the course of treatment may be about 1-2 years before symptoms improve.  Treatment of TB patients should strictly follow the principles of early, regular, combined, moderate and full treatment, and pay attention to liver function and blood tests during treatment.