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TB Meningitis Treatment

TB meningitis treatments are usually focused on the use of medications that will address both the symptoms and the causes of the infection. Tuberculosis that spreads to the brain is an extremely rare condition and is caused by the myobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. Risk factors for this condition include HIV/AIDS, excessive alcohol use, a compromised immune system and pulmonary tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is most often found in areas with poor living conditions.

  1. Antimicrobials

    • The primary method of treating TB meningitis is through the use of medications similar to those that are used to treat pulmonary TB and other types of tuberculosis. One of the first lines of defense against TB is the use of antimicrobial medications such as isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZA) and streptomycin (SM), according to Tarakad Ramachandran MBBS of New York Upstate University Medical Center. These medications are most effective when used in combination with secondary and tertiary medications in a broad-spectrum approach to curing the tuberculosis.

    Second-Line Drugs

    • According to Ramachandran, second-line drugs to treat TB meningitis include antitubercular agents such as Seromycin, Myambutol, Trecator, Laniazid and Nydrazid. These agents are specifically targeted at tuberculosis and are also used to treat pulmonary TB and other forms of tuberculosis. Nydrazid is thought to be particularly helpful in TB meningitis. It is recommended that treatment with secondary drugs be delayed in pregnant women unless they have been recently infected.

    Tertiary Drug Treatments

    • Ramachandran states that among the third-line or tertiary drugs that are used to treat TB meningitis, Cipro and Floxin are antibiotics more familiar to the general public. Since TB meningitis is uncommon, the initial medications that are used to treat this condition are very specific to meningitis in general, but have been found to be especially effective in treating TB meningitis. Tertiary drugs are directed at treating the bacterial infection.

    Length of Treatments

    • According to Ramachandran, the recommended treatment time is approximately 12 to 24 months. However, the recommended treatment in infants can be as little as six months. In large part, the duration of treatment may be determined by the patient's response to the medications and the intensity of the infection, which may vary from person to person.

    Surgery

    • In some cases, doctors may recommend the placement of a shunt or drainage mechanism for individuals who have minimal neurological deficits, states Ramachandran. Surgical intervention has been found to be extremely effective and contributes to positive outcomes. Should the placement of a surgical shunt be the chosen method of treatment, it should not be delayed in order to gain the highest level of benefit from the medical intervention.

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