18 March 2025

Can Tuberculosis Patients Fast?

People with tuberculosis (TB) may experience several symptoms in their body, such as fever, fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pain, and excessive sweating at night.

Tuberculosis (TB) patients generally undergo outpatient treatment by taking medication once a day. The schedule for taking the medication can be adjusted. If the patient previously took the medicine in the morning, during fasting, the schedule can be changed to nighttime or after breaking the fast.

TB patients usually experience a number of symptoms, such as coughing or shortness of breath. In cases of shortness of breath, using an inhaler is still permitted because it is considered not to break the fast. However, usage may depend on individual religious beliefs.

Eat Plenty of Healthy Foods to Avoid Malnutrition. The patient's diet should be well planned by increasing intake of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Malnutrition in TB patients can slow down the treatment process. In addition to supporting the ongoing treatment, healthy foods can strengthen the immune system to prevent TB from worsening.

Here are some types of fruit that are good for TB patients:

• Bananas
  Bananas are a great source of nutrition for strengthening the immune system in TB patients. They can be consumed as a snack for iftar (breaking the fast) and suhoor (pre-dawn meal).

• Oranges
  The minerals and compounds in oranges help protect the lungs from infection. You can consume oranges in the form of juice or eat them directly as a dessert during iftar or suhoor.

You may also take supplements such as curcuma to help prevent liver damage caused by the side effects of TB medications during fasting.

Reviewed by: dr. Innosensius Ibnu Ishwara, M.K.K.

Source: Halodoc Health Article

Photo: freepik.com