Patient's question:
My father has recently been experiencing recurrent low fever, headache, and feeling very weak, often wanting to take naps. Today, after lunch, he suddenly vomited and felt severe pain, so he went to the hospital for a thorough examination. The doctor said he has tuberculous meningitis. How effective is traditional Chinese medicine in treating tuberculous meningitis?Doctor's answer:
Tuberculous meningitis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis reaching the brain tissue through the bloodstream, leading to tuberculous lesions in the central nervous system. Patients primarily have tuberculosis lesions in other parts of the body that spread to the brain via the bloodstream. In the early stages, treatment focuses on Western medicine's systemic anti-tuberculosis therapy and reducing intracranial pressure. Early, combined, sufficient, and standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment is crucial. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment is slower to show effects and is less effective than Western medicine. Finally, in daily life, it is important to maintain a good mood, as a positive attitude greatly helps in the recovery from the disease.