Patient's question:
Recently, I don't know why I've been feeling uncomfortable with my heart. Although I take medication to control it regularly, the effect is not obvious. When I went to the hospital for a check-up, they also prescribed medication. Could you please tell me if tuberculous pericarditis is contagious?Doctor's answer:
In general, simple tuberculous pericarditis is not contagious, but so-called confluent pericarditis is mostly caused by the spread of tuberculosis inflammation from other parts, leading to its recurrence. For example, tuberculous pleurisy or tuberculous peritonitis may recur through local transmission spread. It is also possible for it to spread through the systemic blood system, such as highly contagious caseous tuberculosis or silicotic tuberculosis, which can all spread to the pericardium, causing recurrent tuberculous pericarditis.