Treating extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Most experts now agree that virtually all forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis can be treated with the regimens used for pulmonary tuberculosis, although in some cases a longer duration treatment of nine months may be advisable.

Corticosteroids have been shown to benefit patients some patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, in particular pericarditis and meningitis. They may also be of use in patients with tuberculosis-related wasting and for airway obstruction due to lymph node compression or endobronchial disease.

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