Can tuberculosis be transmitted to family members in the elderly?

Whether tuberculosis in the elderly can be transmitted to family members needs to be judged on a case-by-case basis. If an elderly person is active and is not actively treated, it can be transmitted to family members; However, if the disease is controlled after standard anti-tuberculosis drug treatment, the elderly are generally not contagious.

Older people are more susceptible to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection due to their weakened body resistance. When a patient has symptoms such as coughing and sputum, it is possible to excrete Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the body, which can lead to the infection of others.It is recommended that family members take the elderly to the hospital for treatment in time, and use isoniazid tablets, rifampicin capsules and other drugs for anti-tuberculosis treatment under the guidance of doctors.

If the elderly actively cooperate with the doctor to take relevant drugs during the illness, such as rifampicin capsules, pyrazinamide tablets, etc., the number of germs in the body can be reduced or disappeared, and it will no longer be infectious. However, even if the disease is controlled, you should continue to take the medication as prescribed by your doctor for a period of time to avoid recurrence.

It is recommended to pay attention to maintaining good living habits in daily life, avoid staying up late and overwork, and ensure sufficient sleep time. In terms of diet, you can eat more protein-rich foods, such as milk, eggs and lean meat, which can supplement the nutrients needed by the body and is conducive to physical health.