What Are the Triggers for the Recurrence of Old Pulmonary Tuberculosis?

The relapse of old pulmonary tuberculosis may be caused by failure to receive timely treatment, failure to complete the full course of medication, unauthorized reduction of dosage or discontinuation of medication, lack of self-protection awareness, etc. Here are the main reasons:

Generally speaking, too many patients clinically relapse due to this reason. They fail to detect the condition in time, leading to delayed treatment. Sometimes, patients lack sufficient understanding of pulmonary tuberculosis and cannot seek medical attention promptly when symptoms appear. Or, after seeking medical attention, they fail to actively undergo treatment, resulting in delayed treatment.

The drugs used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis are expensive, and several types of drugs need to be taken jointly throughout the entire treatment process. Some patients cannot afford the high cost due to poor economic conditions and cannot adhere to the combined and full-course medication.

The drugs used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis have significant side effects, causing varying degrees of damage to the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, hearing, and visual functions. Some patients cannot tolerate the side effects of the drugs and stop taking them without authorization due to fear.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease, and consolidation treatment is still needed for 1 to 1.5 years after discharge from the hospital when the condition is stable. Some patients lack self-care awareness, underestimate the consolidation treatment stage of the disease, and fail to adhere to the full course of medication. The main reason for the easy relapse of pulmonary tuberculosis is the failure to adhere to early, combined, regular, and full-course medication. Therefore, everyone should pay special attention to the above points and do a good job in preventing and controlling pulmonary tuberculosis. It is also essential to strengthen self-protection, wear a mask when going out, avoid crowded and enclosed places, and seek medical attention promptly if any abnormalities are found.