What are the long term effects of tuberculosis?
Long term effects include the possibility of latent disease recurring later, effects of the disease itself, and effects of medicines and surgical intervention. High dose medication can lead to liver damage, which can have long term implications, but the major effect is on the lungs; lung capacity may be severely reduced, with scar tissue further damaging lung function. In some cases this may mean a permanent productive cough, with occasional haemoptisis, and increased risk of lung infections. Most people have little or no problems post effective treatment for TB.
