TB and Sunlight

[aivas14]

Hello,

Thankfully, I'm soon finishing first stage of my XDR TB treatment after 9 months. However, my doctor, many nurses and other people I know told me that I should avoid direct sun exposure for the rest of my life, because this may speed up the growth of the bacteria and disease may come back. I find this advice very strange, because during extensive research on the internet I haven't found anything about it. Contrary - there are lots of research that suggests that sunlight is beneficial for the disease, because it boots vitamin D levels.

I wanted to ask, has anyone of you was given this recommendation, or is it just a thing in my country (which is not in the hot climate)? I'm afraid that I may do myself more harm than benefit by following it.

[askessing]

hmmm, I've not heard that and I do live in a hot country. But all the research I've read says the same about Vitamin D - I'm actively sitting in the sun because of it where normally I wouldn't bother. be interested to hear what others think.

[Deniseelk]

I have never heard of this before. If you think back 30 / 40 yrs it was common to ensure those afflicted with TB spent time out in the “ fresh air”. A thought, could it be that they were trying to say that the antibiotics taken could now make you more susceptible to easier skin damage from the UV rays? My thought process is that I take medication for Rheumatoid Arthritis and this can make me more susceptible and greater care is needed to protect my skin? I wonder if you could clarify with your TB nurse?

[Soul01]

I think some medications can possibly affect the skin when in sunlight. For example, the Mayo Clinic website provides information about Moxifloxacin:

‘Some people who take moxifloxacin may become more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause severe sunburn, or skin rash, redness, itching, or discoloration. When you begin using this medicine’.

[HelenC Partner TB Alert]

Hi Aivas14,

This also sounds odd to me, as once you have cured TB there should be no bacteria remaining to react to sunlight. That said, this advice could be about general health after having had such a harsh drug regimen. I think you should speak to a different doctor or a pharmacist to find out more.

Helen