Can covid-19 reactivate cured TB?

[JasmineL]

Hi everybody, i'm Jasmine. I had pulmonary tuberculosis 3 years ago, had serious reaction towards isoniazid so i wasn't able to take it and received treatment around 10 months. Fully recovered. My doctor said he couldn't notice anything from my X-ray, i was very happy with it. But i have been very anxious because of covid since 2020. I got 3 doses of covid vaccine already but still am very concerned that catching covid might reactivate my previous TB. Has anyone experienced that before, i.e. catching covid with a TB history. Any advice would help, thanks!! All the best to everyone, stay safe in this chaotic time.

[HelenC Partner TB Alert]

Hi Jasmine,

I'm sorry to hear that you are worried that covid could cause you to fall ill with TB a second time. From the information that you have given it sounds like there is no need to worry too much. As you have completed you TB treatment and had a clear chest x-ray you can be confident that the TB bacteria are no longer in your body. You have also sensibly has your covid vaccinations which reduces the chance of you falling seriously ill with covid, which could have left you vulnerable to other illnesses.

As ever, your immune system is an excellent defence against TB so make sure to give it the rest and nutrition it needs. It is also worth remebering the most common symptoms of TB so that you can take action quickly if you need to - cough, fever, weightloss, loss of appetite. nightsweats, fever - though again, from what you have said your risks are incredibly low.

Best wishes,

Helen