A 35-year-old woman has tuberculous meningitis confirmed by CSF GeneXpert. She is started on anti-tubercular therapy under NTEP. The total minimum duration of therapy for central nervous system tuberculosis is:
- A 6 months
- B 9 months
- C 12 months ✓
- D 18 months
Correct answer: C. 12 months
Explanation
NTEP guidelines recommend an extended regimen of 12 months (2 months HRZE followed by 10 months HR) for CNS tuberculosis, reflecting the poor drug penetration into CSF and higher relapse risk. Pulmonary and most other extrapulmonary sites receive 6 months, while skeletal TB may be extended to 9 to 12 months depending on response, making 9 months the strongest distractor.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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