TPT full form in medical is Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment. TPT, also known as latent tuberculosis infection treatment, is a way to prevent a person who has been infected with the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) from developing active TB disease. TB is a serious, contagious disease that affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. It is spread through the air when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. People who have been infected with TB bacteria but do not have active TB disease have latent TB infection. This means that the person’s immune system is keeping the TB bacteria in check and preventing it from multiplying and causing illness. However, latent TB infection can progress to active TB disease if not treated, so it is important to take preventive treatment to lower the risk of this happening.
TPT typically involves taking a combination of medications for several months to kill the TB bacteria and prevent the infection from becoming active. It is important for people who have latent TB infection to complete their entire course of treatment as prescribed by their healthcare provider, even if they start feeling better after a few weeks.