Treatment FAQ

how long to wait to get pregnant after tuberculosis treatment

by Evans Emmerich Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Treatment for Latent TB Infection and Pregnancy
For most pregnant women, treatment for latent TB infection can be delayed until 2–3 months post-partum to avoid administering unnecessary medication during pregnancy.

Full Answer

When should tuberculosis (TB) treatment be initiated during pregnancy?

Treatment of pregnant women should be initiated whenever the probability of TB is moderate to high. Infants born to women with untreated TB may be of lower birth weight than those born to women without TB and, in rare circumstances the infant may be born with TB.

What is the prognosis of untreated tuberculosis (TB) during pregnancy?

Untreated tuberculosis (TB) disease represents a greater hazard to a pregnant woman and her fetus than does its treatment. Treatment should be initiated whenever the probability of TB is moderate to high.

Can I get pregnant while taking second-line treatment for TB?

If you need second-line treatment, you may need to avoid or delay getting pregnant. Ask your doctor for counseling. After your baby is born, you should be able to breastfeed them safely, even if you’re still taking first-line drugs for TB. If you’re on isoniazid, keep taking vitamin B6 while you nurse your newborn.

Is drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment safe during pregnancy?

Pregnant women who are being treated for drug-resistant TB should receive counseling concerning the risk to the fetus because of the known and unknown risks of second-line antituberculosis drugs.

When can I get pregnant after TB treatment?

“Once a woman undergoes the course of anti-TB treatment for six to nine months, her chances of conceiving is as good as any other infertile person,” said Dr Padmini Prasad, director, Institute of Sexual Medicine. Dr Rao recounts one case that offers much hope to women with the condition seeking to have children.

Can I get pregnant after TB medication?

After completion of treatment for latent TB, infertile women had nearly 52% successful pregnancy compared with 40.5% in the case of infertile women who did not have latent TB. Latent TB treatment did improve the chances of pregnancy. But the study did not look at whether the treatment halts the decline in eggs.

Is it safe to conceive during tuberculosis?

TB Disease in Pregnancy While dealing with a TB diagnosis in pregnancy is not easy, there is a greater risk to the pregnant woman and her baby if TB disease is not treated. Babies born to women with untreated TB disease may have lower birth weight than those babies born to women without TB.

Does TB affect future pregnancy?

"Tuberculosis has the ability to severely damage the fallopian tubes, if not treated at the initial stage.. it can further lead to serious health complications and also result in infertility," Goswami said.

Can TB cause infertility in females?

Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) is a Mycobacterium infection in the reproductive organs which often leads to infertility. FGTB is either asymptomatic or causes uncharacteristic clinical presentations, making an early diagnosis is challenging.

Can I get married after TB treatment?

Finally, treatment of TB requires a 6-month or more course of drug therapy and participants generally considered it preferable to delay marriage until the course has been completed.

Can anti-TB drugs cause infertility?

TB patients have to take not less than 4 anti-TB drugs simultaneously for a long time and anti-TB drugs negatively influence on sexual function too. It is necessary to have high index of suspicion for in-time diagnosis of genital TB, because infertility may be a first symptom of this disease.

What should be avoided during TB treatment?

As a TB patient, you must avoid caffeine, refined sugar and flour, sodium, and bottled sauces. Foods containing saturated and trans fats worsen the TB symptoms of diarrhoea and abdominal cramping and fatigue. Additionally, alcohol and tobacco are a definite no-no during the disease treatment and cure phase.

What should we do after TB treatment?

People with TB disease need to take several medicines when they start treatment. After taking TB medicine for several weeks, a doctor will be able to tell TB patients when they are no longer able to spread TB germs to others. Most people with TB disease will need to take TB medicine for at least 6 months to be cured.

Does TB affect uterus?

"While in the woman the TB causes infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes; this infection can often be silent, and may not cause any symptoms or signs at all. It later on leads to infertility. The problems may also include bleeding discharge, ulcers, among other symptoms," Chawla told IANS.

Can rifampin cause infertility?

A few antibiotics might cause problems for people who don't want to get pregnant. Rifampicin (Rifadin) and rifabutin (Mycobutin) can interact with birth control pills and make them less effective.

Can RIF cause orange discoloration?

RIF can cause orange discoloration of body fluids, including breast milk. Orange discoloration of body fluids is expected and harmless. There currently is not enough data to indicate whether the 3HP regimen is safe for women to take while breastfeeding. Page last reviewed: August 13, 2020.

Is pyridoxine a 6 month regimen?

6- or 9-month daily regimen of INH (6H or 9H) , with pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation. The 3-month weekly INH and rifapentine (3HP) regimen is not recommended for pregnant women or women expecting to become pregnant during the treatment period because its safety during pregnancy has not been studied. TB Disease.

Can pregnant women take rifapentine?

TB Treatment Regimens for Pregnant Women. The 3-month weekly INH and rifapentine (3HP) regimen is not recommended for pregnant women or women expecting to become pregnant during the treatment period because its safety during pregnancy has not been studied. The preferred initial treatment regimen is INH, rifampin (RIF), ...

Can breast milk cause TB?

For the same reason, drugs in breast milk are not an effective treatment for TB disease or latent TB infection in a nursing infant. Breastfeeding women taking INH should also take pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation. RIF can cause orange discoloration of body fluids, including breast milk.

Should breast feeding be discouraged?

Breastfeeding should not be discouraged for women being treated with the first-line antituberculosis drugs because the concentrations of these drugs in breast milk are too small to produce toxicity in the nursing newborn. For the same reason, drugs in breast milk are not an effective treatment for TB disease or latent TB infection in a nursing infant.

Can TB be delayed during pregnancy?

For women who are at high risk for progression from latent TB infection to TB disease, especially those who are a recent contact of someone with infectious TB disease, treatment for latent TB infection should not be delayed on the basis of pregnancy alone, even during the first tri mester.

Is TB a hazard to pregnant women?

Untreated tuberculosis (TB) disease represent s a greater hazard to a pregnant woman and her fetus than does its treatment. Treatment should be initiated whenever the probability of TB is moderate to high. Infants born to women with untreated TB may be of lower birth weight than those born to women without TB and, in rare circumstances, ...

How do tuberculosis spread?

If alive, these bacilli may spread by way of lymphatic channels or through the bloodstream to more distant tissues and organs. The tubercle bacilli may reach any part of the body, including areas where active TB disease is more likely to develop (such as the brain, larynx, lymph node, lung, spine, bone, or kidney).

What is the role of a gynecologist in TB?

Obstetrician–gynecologists may consult and collaborate with disease experts, including infectious disease specialists, TB control programs, TB medical consultants, and health departments, to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment compliance. Acknowledgments.

What are the symptoms of TB?

Symptoms of active TB disease include loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, night sweats, chills, and weakness. Pulmonary TB symptoms also include cough, chest pain, and hemoptysis. The clinical presentation reflects the organ system that is involved in disease.

What is TB evaluation?

A TB evaluation consist s of a TB risk assessment, medical history, physical examination, and a symptom screen; a TB test should be performed if indicated by the TB evaluation.

Why is screening important for TB?

Screening individuals at risk for TB infection or at risk for progressing to active TB disease and ensuring proper treatment are important to reduce complications of the disease and are critical to efforts to control TB in the United States.

Can rifampin be used for pregnant women?

Based on use of rifampin during treatment of pregnant women with active TB disease, some providers who treat latent TB infection are considering use of rifampin-based regimens for latent TB infection treatment in pregnancy. Few studies have examined teratogenicity of TB medications.

When should TB be treated during pregnancy?

Strong consideration should be given to treatment of high-risk individuals with latent TB infection during pregnancy; if treatment is not initiated during pregnancy, it should be started within 2–3 months postpartum.

What are the complications of being pregnant?

Complications. Breastfeeding. When you’re pregnant, your doctor will give you a number of routine tests to check for any health issues that might pose problems for you or your baby. One thing they may check you for early on is tuberculosis (TB). It’s a contagious bacterial disease that usually affects your lungs.

Can you breastfeed a baby after TB?

Ask your doctor for counseling. After your baby is born, you should be able to breastfeed them safely, even if you’re still taking first-line drugs for TB.

Can TB cause birth defects?

Some TB drugs can lead to birth defects or other problems in a growing baby. But your doctor won’t prescribe those drugs if you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant. The medicine you get will depend on what kind of TB you have. Latent TB.

Can you take isoniazid while pregnant?

For the rest of your pregnancy, it’s likely that you’ll take only isoniazid and rifampin, either daily or twice a week. HIV and TB. If you also have HIV, your doctor probably will give you the same drugs to treat both diseases that they would give someone who’s not pregnant.

Can tuberculosis be treated while pregnant?

It’s much worse to leave it untreated. TB drugs you take do reach your baby. But they haven’t been shown to cause harm in unborn babies.

Can you have TB and not know it?

You can have TB and not know it. That’s called latent TB. But if you have active TB, you’ll have symptoms like coughing for weeks, weight loss, bloody phlegm, and night sweats. The active form of the disease is more serious. But both active and latent TB can cause harm to your baby. They may be more likely to:

Can you take TB drugs while pregnant?

Your doctor may recommend that you switch to so-called second-line drugs. Some of them aren’t safe to take during pregnancy. They can cause birth defects and other problems.

Can you catch TB more than once?

It is possible to catch T B more than once, if you are unlucky enough to breathe in TB bacteria at another time. Always take new TB symptoms seriously and get them checked out by a doctor. After finishing treatment you might feel like looking at your life with new eyes. You have achieved a lot!

Can you stop TB treatment?

You might need more treatment if tests show there is still TB bacteria in your body, but most people will get the all-clear. Your treatment will not be stopped until you are cured.

How long does 3HP last?

The term 3HP comes from the regimen duration (once weekly dos es for 3 months) and the abbreviations of each of the two drugs (IN H and R P T), in the regimen. Some people refer to 3HP as the “12-dose regimen.”. This regimen has been recommended in the United States for treating latent TB infection since 2011.

How long does rifamycin last?

Four months of daily rifampin (4R) Three months of daily isoniazid plus rifampin (3HR) Shorter, rifamycin-based treatment regimens generally have a lower risk of hepatotoxicity than longer 6 to 9 months of isoniazid monotherapy (6H/9H, respectively).

What is the best treatment for latent TB?

Rifampin (RIF) In 2020, CDC and the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA) published new guidelines for the treatment of latent TB infection. CDC and NTCA preferentially recommend short-course, rifamycin-based, 3- or 4-month latent TB infection treatment regimens over 6- or 9-month isoniazid monotherapy.

Why is latent TB important?

Why is treatment of latent TB infection important? Treatment of latent TB infection is essential to controlling TB in the United States because it substantially reduces the risk that latent TB infection will progress to TB disease.

What is DOT therapy?

Clinicians may choose to administer latent TB infection treatment through directly observed therapy (DOT) or self-administered therapy (SAT) based on local practice, individual patient attributes and preferences, and other considerations including risk of progression to severe forms of TB disease.

How long does it take for TB to develop?

Some people develop TB disease soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick with TB disease when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. Latent TB infection can be treated to prevent the development of TB disease.

What should a clinic decide on TB treatment?

Clinicians should choose the appropriate treatment regimen based on drug susceptibility results of the presumed source case (if known), coexisting medical conditions (e.g., HIV ), and potential for drug-drug interactions. Consultation with a TB expert is advised if the known source of TB infection has drug-resistant TB.

What is the CDC's pregnancy registry number?

For enrollment in the registry, contact CDC at 404-639-8253. 24.

Can you get HPV while pregnant?

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) HPV vaccines are not recommended for use in pregnant women. If a woman is found to be pregnant after initiating the vaccination series, the remainder of the 3-dose series should be delayed until completion of pregnancy. Pregnancy testing is not needed before vaccination.

Is YF a precaution?

Pregnancy is a precaution for YF vaccin e administration, compared with most other live vaccines, which are contraindicated in pregnancy . If travel is unavoidable, and the risks for YFV exposure are felt to outweigh the vaccination risks, a pregnant woman should be vaccinated.

Can pregnant women get smallpox?

Pregnant women who have had a definite exposure to smallpox virus (i.e., face-to-face, household, or close-proximity contact with a smallpox patient) and are, therefore, at high risk for contracting the disease, should… be vaccinated.

Is rabies a contraindication to pregnancy?

Rabies. Because of the potential consequences of inadequately managed rabies exposure, pregnancy is not considered a contraindication to postexposure prophylaxis. Certain studies have indicated no increased incidence of abortion, premature births, or fetal abnormalities associated with rabies vaccination.

Introduction

  • Untreated tuberculosis (TB) disease represents a greater hazard to a pregnant woman and her fetus than does its treatment. Treatment of pregnant women should be initiated whenever the probability of TB is moderate to high. Infants born to women with untreated TB may be of lower …
See more on cdc.gov

Testing

  • The tuberculin skin test is considered both valid and safe to use throughout pregnancy. The TB blood test is safe to use during pregnancy, but has not been evaluated for diagnosing M. tuberculosisinfection in pregnant women. Other tests are needed to show if a person has TB disease.
See more on cdc.gov

Contraindications

  • The following antituberculosis drugs are contraindicated in pregnant women: 1. Streptomycin 2. Kanamycin 3. Amikacin 4. Capreomycin 5. Fluoroquinolones Women who are being treated for drug-resistant TB should receive counseling concerning the risk to the fetus because of the known and unknown risks of second-line antituberculosis drugs.
See more on cdc.gov

Breastfeeding

  • Breastfeeding should not be discouraged for women being treated with the first-line antituberculosis drugs because the concentrations of these drugs in breast milk are too small to produce toxicity in the nursing newborn. For the same reason, drugs in breast milk are not an effective treatment for TB disease or LTBI in a nursing infant. Breastfeeding women taking INH …
See more on cdc.gov

For More Information

  1. CDC. Treatment of tuberculosis.MMWR2003; 52 (No. RR–11).
  2. Errata
  3. American Thoracic Society/CDC. Targeted tuberculin testing and treatment of latent TB infection.pdf icon. (PDF) MMWR2000: 49(No. RR–6).
  4. CDC. Guidelines for using the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test for detecting Mycobacterium tube…
  1. CDC. Treatment of tuberculosis.MMWR2003; 52 (No. RR–11).
  2. Errata
  3. American Thoracic Society/CDC. Targeted tuberculin testing and treatment of latent TB infection.pdf icon. (PDF) MMWR2000: 49(No. RR–6).
  4. CDC. Guidelines for using the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold test for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, United Statespdf icon. (PDF) MMWR2005; 54 (No. RR-15).

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9