Is miliary tuberculosis contagious? How is it transmitted?

Expert answer:

No, miliary tuberculosis it is not contagious. It is a type of tuberculosis extrapulmonary, therefore it is not transmitted from person to person through the respiratory secretions. Patients with miliary tuberculosis are not able to transmit the bacteria when speaking, coughing or sneezing, as occurs in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Miliary tuberculosis is a type of tuberculosis in which bacteria are widespread in the bloodstream. The disease causes lesions in various tissues and organs of the body and the risk of meningitis is high, being one of the most severe forms of tuberculosis.

Despite its severity, miliary tuberculosis is not transmissible. Patients need not be in isolation and can contact there is no risk of contagion.

Already the Pulmonary Tuberculosis, which is the most common form of the disease, is contagious. When someone with active pulmonary tuberculosis sneezes, coughs or talks, he releases respiratory secretion droplets contaminated with the bacteria. Transmission to other people occurs through the airways, through the inhalation of those droplets of secretion that are suspended in the air.

It is worth remembering that a patient with miliary tuberculosis can transmit the disease if he is also in the pulmonary form of tuberculosis.

Treatment of miliary tuberculosis can be started even though there is no definitive diagnosis, since the mortality rate is high if treatment is not started early.

Learn more at:

What is miliary tuberculosis? What are the symptoms?

Does miliary tuberculosis have a cure? How is the treatment?