TB outside the lungs (extrapulmonary TB) is treated with the same family of medicines as lung TB. For some sites, such as the brain and spine, treatment lasts longer.
हिंदी में सार
फेफड़ों के बाहर की टीबी (जैसे हड्डी, रीढ़, दिमाग, गाँठ, पेट) का इलाज भी इन्हीं दवाइयों से होता है। रीढ़ की टीबी में लगभग 12 महीने और दिमाग की टीबी में कम से कम 12 महीने का इलाज हो सकता है। अवधि डॉक्टर तय करते हैं।
Never stop or change TB medicines on your own
Do not stop, skip or change your TB medicines without talking to your doctor or DOTS provider, even if you feel better. Stopping early can bring TB back and can make it drug-resistant.
Contact your health facility at once if you have:
- yellow eyes or yellow skin, or dark urine with pale stools
- any change in your eyesight, such as blurring or trouble seeing colours
- severe or repeated vomiting, or you cannot keep food down
- a skin rash, itching with swelling, or blisters
Typical durations by site (overview)
| Site | Typical course | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lymph node (neck, gland) TB | As per NTEP guidelines | ICMR workflow |
| Abdominal TB | 6 months, extended if the response is slow | ICMR workflow |
| Genitourinary TB | 6 months, longer in specified situations | ICMR workflow |
| Spine TB | About 12 months | ICMR workflow |
| Brain TB (meningitis) | At least 12 months, with steroids for some weeks | ICMR workflow |
| Skin TB | Similar to lung TB under NTEP | ICMR workflow |
| Bone and joint TB (not spine) | As per NTEP guidelines, often longer | ICMR workflow |
Your doctor sets your course based on how you respond. This page gives no doses.
Extra care for some sites
- Spine TB with weakness or numbness needs a specialist, sometimes surgery.
- Abdominal TB with blockage of the intestine may need a procedure or surgery.
- Brain TB needs hospital care and close follow-up.
- Genital TB in women may affect fertility; a specialist can advise after treatment.
Symptoms by site are on TB symptoms.
TB symptoms body mapTap a part of the body to see how TB can show up there.
Open the body mapMore treatment guides
Frequently asked questions
How long is bone TB treatment?
Often longer than lung TB; spine TB is typically about 12 months. Your doctor decides.
Is gland TB treatment the same as lung TB?
It uses the same medicines as per NTEP guidelines. Your doctor decides the length.
Can extrapulmonary TB come back?
It can, so keep follow-up visits and finish the full course.
Medical review note. Written from official TB programme guidelines; last checked 16 October 2026. This is general information, not medical advice. For diagnosis and treatment, see a doctor at your nearest government health facility.