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Tests & Treatment for TB

Each year approximately 2 million people around the world die from tuberculosis (TB), reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States, deaths from TB are rare due to the tests and treatment available for the infection.

  1. Mantou Test

    • During the PPD or Mantou skin test for TB, you receive an injection of a protein under your skin. Patients with tuberculosis typically develop severe inflammation around the site of the injection within 48 to 72 hours, so your doctor will have you come back within three days to have the area checked, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

    Types of Other Tests

    • Other tests used for TB include chest x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood testing and analysis of phlegm or nasal secretions.

    Function of Treatment

    • The aim of treatment for TB is to kill the bacteria that causes the infection through the use of prescription medications. The drugs used to treat tuberculosis prevent the bacteria from growing and spreading, which eventually causes them to die.

    Medications

    • The most commonly prescribe antibiotic medications for TB include isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. In some cases, doctors prescribe all four of the medications at once, according to the Mayo Clinic.

    Risks of Treatment

    • The medications used as treatment for TB have the potential to cause damage to your liver. Symptoms of this rare, but life-threatening side effect include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, swelling of your abdomen and blurred vision or color blindness.

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