Extra-Pulmonary TB Linked to Persistent Lung Function Deficits

Post-tuberculosis lung disease is a well-documented sequela for patients treated for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), often leading to chronic respiratory symptoms and diminished quality of life [1, 2, 3]. While clinicians are familiar with managing long-term morbidity like airflow obstruction in PTB survivors [2, 4], the pulmonary consequences following treatment for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) have remained largely uncharacterized [5]. This represents a significant gap in clinical knowledge, as EPTB accounts for a quarter of the global tuberculosis burden [6]. A recent prospective cohort study provides the first detailed evidence on the nature and persistence of lung impairment in this substantial patient population.