Post Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) affects millions of people worldwide, and many individuals continue to experience long-term health problems even after completing TB treatment. One of the most important of these complications is post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD), which can cause persistent breathing problems, reduced physical capacity, and poor quality of life. Despite its high burden, PTLD is still poorly understood, and effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and long-term management are limited. The AFTER-TB study aims to address these gaps by combining long-term follow-up of people with TB with the evaluation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) strategies for those who develop PTLD. The study includes three groups: people with active TB who are followed over time, people with established PTLD, and healthy individuals without TB to provide basal values. By following people from the start of TB treatment, the study will identify who develops PTLD and which clinical, biological, and imaging factors contribute to lung damage or recovery. In addition, the study will collect detailed information on symptoms, lung function, imaging, and biological samples over time. Advanced laboratory techniques will be used to identify biomarkers linked to disease progression or protection, as well as bacterial genetic factors that may influence long-term lung outcomes. This information will help improve early diagnosis and risk stratification. AFTER-TB study will also implement a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programme that includes exercise training, respiratory physiotherapy, education for healthy habits, and psychosocial support. The impact of rehabilitation on physical capacity, lung function, and quality of life will be assessed over time. Overall, the AFTER-TB study combines clinical follow-up, biological research, and pulmonary rehabilitation to generate new knowledge that can improve the prevention and management of PTLD, ultimately supporting better long-term health and quality of life for TB survivors.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation program is feasible and acceptable for children ages 6-15 who have recently completed treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. The main questions it aims to answer are: Can children and caregivers follow a 6-week rehabilitation program? Is the program acceptable and feasible for children and caregivers? Researchers will also explore preliminary changes in walking distance and quality of life. Participants will: Attend a clinic visit for baseline testing, including a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) Receive exercise instructions and a pedometer Complete home-based walking and wall sit exercises twice per week for 6 weeks Receive weekly follow-up from study staff (by phone or home visit) Return to clinic at 6 weeks for follow-up testing

This is a prospective, multicenter observational cohort study aimed at establishing a nationwide post-TB lung disease registry in Korea. The study will enroll adult participants either undergoing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis or with a history of treated TB. Over a five-year follow-up period, the study will assess the long-term health consequences of TB, focusing on respiratory symptoms, radiological changes, pulmonary function, and quality of life.