Having Tuberculosis while Pregnant, Look For Handling Here

Pregnant women who are infected with tuberculosis often hesitate to take medication for fear of the safety of their babies. In fact, tuberculosis must be treated immediately so that the condition does not get worse. Tuberculosis (TB) must get proper treatment, because if not, this condition can cause more severe conditions. If you are pregnant and have TB, it can certainly pose a risk to your pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women with TB must be extra careful.

Tuberculosis Treatment in Pregnant Women

You do not need to worry because in principle TB that occurs in pregnant women can still be overcome, although maybe the handling is a bit more complicated when compared with TB patients who are not pregnant. TB treatment during pregnancy is generally classified as safe, because the type and dosage have been adjusted so as not to harm the fetus and the womb. Before treatment efforts are made, the doctor will perform a series of procedures to diagnose the type of TB experienced, including through a history of complaints, physical examinations, and supporting examinations such as X-rays, sputum tests, and blood tests. Tuberculosis treatment given, will be adjusted to the type of TB experienced by pregnant women:

• Treatment of latent TB

You may be diagnosed with TB while pregnant, even though symptoms have not yet arisen. This condition is known as latent TB, and treatment will be given with full consideration. Generally you will be recommended to start taking medication after 2-3 months postpartum. Although in some cases, treatment can be given while pregnant.

• Treatment of active TB

Whereas pregnant women who experience symptoms of TB, and are diagnosed with active TB, will be treated immediately with the administration of a combination TB drug. This means that there are several types of drugs that are combined into one for consumption every day, to fight active TB infection during pregnancy. Doctors will provide drugs that have been adjusted, both types and dosages, in order to maintain the safety of pregnant women and fetuses. Undergoing TB treatment while pregnant in a disciplined manner, it is important to be carried out according to the doctor's recommendations. Generally TB treatment can take 6 to 9 months. The right treatment choice can overcome TB in pregnant women, so this infection does not have a bad impact on the fetus.

Danger and Impact If Not Treated

As long as you take regular treatment, it is very likely that TB infection will not affect the baby. If not treated immediately, TB infection during pregnancy can cause:

• Increases the risk of preterm birth
• Low birth weight babies
• Infectious TB infection in infants in the womb
• Mother can transmit TB infection to other people around

It is important to remember that TB treatment needs to be carried out in a disciplined way to completion, in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. Because if not, you will increase the risk of re-occurrence of TB infection with a condition that is already resistant (resistant) to existing treatments. Also of concern, your family and close relatives can get TB, including your newborn baby. If you do not take medication and are tested positive for TB after giving birth, you may need to be separated from the baby to prevent transmission. If after birth, your baby is diagnosed with TB, the doctor will conduct an examination and provide treatment recommendations for approximately 6 months. After the baby is born, mothers who are on TB treatment are still allowed to breastfeed their babies. Because, TB treatment that you consume generally does not have a bad effect on breastfed babies. If you experience symptoms of TB during pregnancy, immediately see a doctor so that it can be treated quickly. Rapid and appropriate treatment can accelerate healing and minimize the potential for TB transmission to infants.