Is bone tuberculosis contagious if you eat together?

Bone TB cannot be spread to others by eating together.

Bone tuberculosis is a disease in which tuberculosis bacteria infect bones or joints. The cause of the disease is often related to the spread of existing tuberculosis infection (such as pulmonary tuberculosis) to bone tissue. Compared with pulmonary tuberculosis, bone tuberculosis is not obviously contagious through the respiratory tract. Generally speaking, it is not transmitted through air, saliva or food. Contact such as sharing meals and shaking hands in daily life is completely safe.

The biggest risk of living with a patient with bone tuberculosis is contact with potential open wounds and body fluids. For example, the pus associated with bone tuberculosis may contain tuberculosis bacteria. If the immune system is weak or the wound is in direct contact with infected secretions, you need to be alert to the risk of infection. But this is not common in daily contact and can be prevented by washing hands and properly handling wounds.

If you are around someone with bone tuberculosis, you don't need to worry too much when eating with them, but you should help them follow the doctor's advice for treatment. If the patient also has pulmonary tuberculosis or is actively infectious, it is recommended to take appropriate protective measures, such as wearing a mask and avoiding long-term contact in closed spaces. If you are unsure of your personal situation or have related symptoms such as persistent pain or swollen joints, you should see a doctor for screening or evaluation as soon as possible.