What is the primary treatment for TB disease?

The primary treatment for tuberculosis (TB) disease is antibiotics. TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and antibiotics specifically target and kill these bacteria, effectively treating the infection. The standard treatment regimen typically involves a combination of several antibiotics taken over an extended period, usually six months or more, to ensure that all the bacteria are eradicated and to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains.

Antivirals, while effective against viral infections, do not work on bacterial infections like TB. Chemotherapy generally refers to treatments used for cancer, which is not applicable in the context of an infectious disease like tuberculosis. Surgery may be necessary in some severe cases to remove infected lung tissue, but it is not the main treatment approach for TB. The focus remains on antibiotic therapy to effectively manage and cure the disease.