TB Specialist & Treatment in Mohali | Dr. Rahul Katyal

Name: Tuberculosis (TB) Treatment in Mohali — Diagnosis, DOTS, and Drug-Resistant TB
Creator: Dr. Rahul Katyal

Understanding TB

Tuberculosis in India — Why Early, Complete Treatment Matters

India carries one of the highest tuberculosis burdens in the world, and TB remains a major public-health priority. Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and most often affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), but it can involve almost any part of the body. It spreads through the air when a person with active lung TB coughs or sneezes.

The good news is that TB is curable. With accurate diagnosis and a full, correctly-taken course of medicines, the great majority of patients recover completely. The two biggest challenges are diagnosing TB early and making sure treatment is completed — stopping early is the main reason TB becomes drug-resistant.

Common Symptoms

✓Cough lasting two weeks or more, sometimes with blood-stained sputum
✓Fever, especially in the evening, with night sweats
✓Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
✓Fatigue and, in lung TB, chest pain or breathlessness

Types of TB

The Main Forms of Tuberculosis

Pulmonary TB

The most common form, affecting the lungs. It is the type that can spread to others and typically presents with a long-standing cough, fever and weight loss.

Extrapulmonary TB

TB outside the lungs — affecting lymph nodes, the pleura (causing a pleural effusion), spine, abdomen, brain and other organs. It is usually not infectious to others.

Drug-Resistant TB (MDR-TB)

TB that does not respond to the main first-line drugs (isoniazid and rifampicin). It needs longer, individualised regimens under specialist supervision, coordinated with the government programme.

Diagnosis

How TB Is Diagnosed

Modern TB diagnosis is faster and more accurate than ever, thanks to molecular testing.

Sputum Microscopy

Examining sputum for TB bacteria (AFB smear) is a long-established, widely available test, useful for diagnosis and for monitoring treatment response.

CBNAAT / GeneXpert

A rapid molecular test that detects TB DNA within hours and also identifies rifampicin resistance — a key marker of MDR-TB. It is now the preferred first test in most cases.

IGRA Blood Test

Interferon-gamma release assays help identify latent (dormant) TB infection, particularly useful for contacts and before starting immune-suppressing treatments.

Chest X-ray & Sampling

A chest X-ray shows the extent of lung disease. For extrapulmonary TB, samples such as pleural fluid or lymph-node tissue are collected and tested to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

DOTS Treatment and MDR-TB Management

The DOTS Strategy (Free, Government Programme)

India follows the DOTS strategy (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) under the National TB Elimination Programme. Drug-sensitive TB is treated for about six months with a fixed combination of anti-TB drugs, split into an intensive phase and a continuation phase. Diagnostic tests and medicines are provided free of cost at public facilities, and patients are notified and supported through the government NIKSHAY system.

Completing the full course is essential. Many people feel better within a few weeks and are tempted to stop — but stopping early lets the bacteria survive and become drug-resistant. Dr. Katyal and the team focus on adherence support, side-effect management and follow-up testing to make sure treatment succeeds.

MDR-TB Management

Drug-resistant TB needs longer, individualised regimens guided by drug-susceptibility testing, with careful monitoring for side-effects. These cases are managed in close coordination with the government programme, and may involve additional private specialist input for complex monitoring and supportive care. Note that while standard DOTS treatment is free, the pathway for MDR-TB is more involved and is planned individually — we will explain the options clearly rather than quote a fixed price. [CONFIRM: any private MDR-TB support services and charges at Gini]

Critical Care

When TB Needs Hospitalisation

Most tuberculosis is treated on an outpatient basis while the person continues daily life. Hospital admission is needed for severe or complicated disease:

🔴 Significant breathlessness or low oxygen levels

🔴 Coughing up large amounts of blood (haemoptysis)

🔴 Extensive or miliary (widespread) TB, or TB of the brain or spine

🔴 Serious drug reactions or other complicating illness

Gini Advanced Care Hospital provides intensivist-led ICU support, including oxygen and ventilation, for these situations, under Dr. Rahul Katyal, Director of Critical Care. [CONFIRM: ICU bed count]

Learn about our ICU & Critical Care →

Your Specialist

Meet Dr. Rahul Katyal

Dr. Rahul Katyal

MBBS, MD Pulmonary Medicine & Non-Invasive Cardiology

Director of Critical Care · Gini Advanced Care Hospital, Mohali

Dr. Katyal diagnoses and manages both pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, including complex and drug-resistant cases. He works within the framework of the government's free DOTS programme, focusing on accurate diagnosis, adherence support and follow-up so that patients complete treatment and are cured — and provides critical-care support for the small number of patients with severe or complicated TB.

View Full Profile →

FAQ

Tuberculosis — Frequently Asked Questions

Is TB treatment free in India?+

Yes. Standard tuberculosis treatment is provided free of cost through the Government of India's National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), which follows the DOTS strategy. Diagnostic tests and anti-TB medicines are available free at public facilities, and notified patients are supported through the NIKSHAY system. Your specialist can guide you on accessing these free services.

How is TB diagnosed?+

TB is diagnosed with a combination of sputum microscopy, molecular tests such as CBNAAT/GeneXpert (which also detect rifampicin resistance), chest X-ray, and sometimes IGRA blood tests for latent infection. For TB outside the lungs, samples such as pleural fluid or lymph node tissue are tested. Molecular testing gives fast, accurate results and is now the preferred first test.

How long does TB treatment take?+

Drug-sensitive TB is usually treated for about six months with a fixed combination of anti-TB drugs, taken exactly as prescribed. Drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) needs longer, specialised regimens. Completing the full course is essential — stopping early is the main reason TB becomes drug-resistant, even when a person feels better after a few weeks.

What is MDR-TB?+

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is tuberculosis that does not respond to the two most powerful first-line drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. It usually arises from incomplete or irregular treatment. MDR-TB is diagnosed with drug-susceptibility testing and needs longer, individualised regimens under specialist supervision, coordinated with the government programme.

When does a TB patient need to be hospitalised?+

Most TB is treated on an outpatient basis. Hospitalisation is needed for severe or complicated disease — significant breathlessness or low oxygen, coughing up large amounts of blood, extensive or miliary TB, serious drug side-effects, or when TB affects the brain or spine. Gini provides intensivist-led ICU support for these situations.

This patient-education page is part of Gini Health's commitment to clear, evidence-based information for the Mohali and Chandigarh Tri-City community. For official programme information, visit the government NIKSHAY portal.

Contributing — Gurjot Narwal, Founder