Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious illness that’s estimated to impact nine million people all over the globe each year. While TB can be effectively cured with proper treatment, many people fail to access satisfactory medical care, especially when located far from doctors and hospitals. As a result, outcomes are often far worse, and many people needlessly lose their lives due to lack of healthcare access.
Fortunately, telemedicine offers a reliable solution for TB treatment. This guide explains the proper protocols for treating this illness, and how telehealth services are greatly improving the outcome for so many.
TB is often treated with antibacterial medication, which most patients need to take for a period of six months to one year. Because many patients begin to feel better before the drug regimen is complete, they often stop taking their medication prematurely. This can lead to worsening symptoms, as well as drug-resistant TB, which is far more challenging to treat.
Because so many people fall into the trap of not completing their course of medication, doctors familiar with TB therapies recommend directly observed treatment (DOT). This entails watching a patient take their medication each day to ensure they maintain their drug regimen. Despite its positive impact on TB treatment, DOT is cost-prohibitive and inconvenient, as most people would be unable to visit a doctor’s office on a daily basis.
Telemedicine services allow patients to confer remotely with a doctor using a mobile device. When it comes to TB, they can help physicians with DOT, as they can observe a patient taking their medication from anywhere in the world. This is especially beneficial for people living in remote areas of the world, who may be situated many miles from the nearest hospital or clinic.
With telemedicine, a patient could link up with a doctor remotely and take their medication while being observed. The telehealth visit also gives patients a chance to confer with their doctors about any symptoms or side effects they’re experiencing.
Telehealth services provide patients with more options when it comes to healthcare. As for diseases like TB, telehealth ensures that patients have the support they need to recover from the illness while also limiting its transmission to other people.