About the treatment

A bloodtest shows that you are infected with tuberculosis and need medication to prevent the infection to flare up and cause illness at a later point in life.

Tuberculosis is spread through the air from one person to another. People who become infected with tuberculosis bacterias, but do not feel sick, have what is called latent tuberculosis infection. The reason why a person does not feel sick is because the tuberculosis bacterias are latent or inactive (sleeping) in the body. A person with latent tuberculosis infection has no symptoms and cannot spread the bacteria to others.
A person with latent tuberculosis infection can have the bacterias in their body for years before getting sick.

Medication

You will have medication for 4 or 6 months depending on what kind of medication the doctor decides to prescribe. The medicication is in the form of tablets and is distributed free of charge by the hospital.
The medication does not protect 100 % against the development of active tuberculosis, but the risk is significantly reduced.

Before you start the treatment, please tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines. If you see another doctor, be sure to inform that you are being treated for latent tuberculosis infection.

Side effects

The medicine is usually tolerated without problems, but in some cases side effects might occur.

The most common side effects of Isoniazid are:

• Skin rash or itching.
• Nausea, vomiting or abdominal uneasyness.
• Tiredness.
• Mood swings.
• Loss of memory and difficulty in concentrating.
• Tingling or numbness in hands and feet.
• No appetite.
• Fever.

Please contact us or dial 1813 for the medical help line if you experience:

• yellowing of the eyes or the skin.

The most common side effects of Rifampicin are:

• Skin rash or itching.
• Nausea, vomiting or abdominal uneasyness.
• Tiredness.
• Fever.
• Joint pains.
• Orange or red urine and feces. Contact lenses can also become discolored.

Please contact us or dial 1813 for the medical help line if you experience:

• yellowing of the eyes or the skin.

Rifampicin reduces the effect of birth control pills and intrauterine devices. Make sure to use another form of contraception during the treatment.