When a patient who was infected with tuberculosis starts to feel better, that suggests that they have cleared the infection from their body.
True or False?
False.
Feeling better does not necessarily suggest that a patient has cleared the tuberculosis (TB) infection from their body. TB is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the infection can be quite persistent. The improvement in symptoms may occur due to the body's immune system mounting a response against the infection, but it does not mean that the bacteria have been completely eradicated.
To determine if a patient has cleared the TB infection, medical professionals use various diagnostic tests. One common test is called a sputum culture, where a sample of mucus coughed up from the patient's lungs is collected and examined in a laboratory. If the culture is negative for M. tuberculosis growth, it suggests that the infection has been cleared. Other tests, such as chest X-rays or molecular tests like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), may also be used to confirm clearance of the infection.
It is essential for individuals who have been infected with TB to complete the entire course of treatment, usually consisting of several antibiotics taken over a period of several months, even if they start feeling better. This is because stopping treatment prematurely can lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis and a recurrence of the infection.