At which stage of tuberculosis is it contagious?
Infectiousness of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Across Different Stages
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is contagious throughout various stages, including the incubation period, prodromal stage, acute onset stage, and chronic progression stage. It is recommended that patients promptly seek medical attention and undergo treatment under the guidance of a physician. Here's a breakdown of the contagiousness across different stages:
I. Asymptomatic Patients: The Incubation Stage
These are patients with TB in an incubation state, who typically exhibit no overt clinical symptoms. However, their respiratory secretions still contain Mycobacterium tuberculosis, making them highly contagious.
II. Other Stages
- Prodromal Stage: Some patients may experience low-grade fever, night sweats, fatigue, and other non-specific symptoms. Although not typical, this stage also poses a certain level of contagion.
- Acute Onset Stage: When the body's resistance weakens, the infected area may experience inflammatory reactions, manifested as cough, sputum production, hemoptysis, and as the disease progresses, may also include chest pain, fever, and even dyspnea. This stage is also contagious.
- Chronic Progression Stage: Failure to receive active and effective treatment during the illness may lead to further deterioration, causing bronchial stenosis or obstruction, thereby increasing the risk of transmission. However, patients in the recovery phase generally do not pose a transmission risk.
For individuals diagnosed with TB, it is crucial to actively cooperate with medical professionals in anti-TB treatment, adhering to the prescribed medications such as Rifampicin Capsules and Isoniazid Tablets to control disease progression. Additionally, it is imperative to observe isolation measures and avoid sharing personal items with others to prevent cross-infection.
