Treatment for Tuberculosis

Treatment will vary depending on the type of tuberculosis one is diagnosed with, active TB or inactive (latent) TB. Treating inactive TB is much easier than treating active TB and can help prevent someone from developing active TB in the future. We recommend that anyone with inactive TB consider receiving treatment. This can be done through a medical care provider.  

INACTIVE (LATENT) TB TREATMENT

Inactive TB is usually treated with 1 or 2 antibiotics over the course of 3-4 months. It does not require direct monitoring from the Health Department. If you have a positive TB test and are diagnosed with inactive TB, ask your medical care provider about treatment options for inactive TB.  

ACTIVE TB TREATMENT

Active TB is treated by taking many different antibiotics over the course of 6 to 9 months, sometimes longer. Snohomish County Health Department provides case management for people diagnosed with active TB in Snohomish County. The case management team consists of a TB consulting physician, specialized nurses who provide care throughout the course of treatment, and outreach specialists who provide additional support. 

If someone is diagnosed with active TB in the lungs (pulmonary), the Health Department is required by state law to directly monitor all doses of medications, also known as directly observed therapy.