Key Warning Signs Of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a bacteria-caused disease that spreads when a patient with the condition talks, sneezes, or coughs. In most cases, the bacteria attack an individual's lungs, but the disease can also cause damage to other portions of the body. Patients with weak immune systems have a higher likelihood of developing tuberculosis. Multiple tests, including x-rays, blood tests, and skin tests, can determine if an individual has tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can usually be cured through a combination of different medicines. It's important for patients with symptoms of tuberculosis to be evaluated by a doctor, especially if they have reason to believe they've been exposed to TB bacteria.

Chronic Coughing

The most characteristic symptom of tuberculosis in an individual's lungs is chronic coughing. This cough generally lasts for at least three weeks. Though coughing is a symptom of many non-severe conditions that resolve on their own, like the common cold, experts do recommend seeing a doctor if a cough lasts more than three weeks. Chronic coughing can be related to bronchitis, cancer, bacterial infections, and a host of other issues, even if it is not tuberculosis. The cough might be dry and cause the throat to become sore. It might also be wet and produce phlegm. A chronic cough doesn't always indicate a severe disease. It can also indicate allergies or asthma. In TB patients, the cough is caused by the damage to the lungs. Some individuals with tuberculosis might cough up blood.

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Chest Pain

Tuberculosis can lead to chest pain, which might be sharp or throbbing. This pain might get worse when an individual coughs or breathes. Patients might have unexplained fatigue and weakness.

There are two main presentations of tuberculosis. With latent TB infection, there are tuberculosis bacteria living in the body without causing symptoms. Many individuals who breathe in TB bacteria can fight them off with their immune systems. However, when the bacteria do grow and begin attacking the lungs and other organ systems, the infection has progressed to tuberculosis disease. Chest pain is an indicator a patient has developed TB disease. It's common for latent tuberculosis infection to evolve into TB disease if a patient's immune system is compromised and cannot fight off the initial bacteria.

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