Tuberculosis Symptoms Tuberculosis (TB) is a life threatening bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs.
However the germ – mycobacterium tuberculosis can also cause damage to other parts of the body. Tuberculosis is contagious and spreads through air borne droplets when an infected person with TB talks, coughs or sneezes. In general a prolong exposure to the infected person and a compromised immune system is needed to become infected yourself.
Tuberculosis may not show symptoms till many years and if left untreated then it can be fatal. A strong immune system can prevent you from becoming infected even though your body may harbor the bacteria.
Tuberculosis can be distinguished between TB infection and active TB.
TB infection also called latent TB – this form is not contagious and may cause no symptoms. Active TB however is contagious and can make you sick. Even though active TB causes damage, the infection can be asymptomatic for years.
Symptoms of Tuberculosis
The immune system attacks the TB bacteria within 2-8 weeks after a person is being infected. In some cases the bacteria can die and the infection can clear completely, but in others the bacteria can stay in an inactive state in the body and cause no TB symptoms. In still other cases the infection can develop in to active TB.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common form and coughing is often a common and only initial indication of tuberculosis. Other signs and symptoms of active tuberculosis includes –
- Severe cough which lasts for three weeks or longer which produce bloody or discolored sputum
- Night sweats
- Slight fever
- Chills
- Fatigue and weakness
- Pain in the chest
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss and
- Pain with breathing or coughing
Tuberculosis can also spread outside your lungs and can target almost any part of the body like bones, joints, muscles, central nervous system, urinary tract, lymphatic system and bone marrow. Infection can spread in one organ like kidney or spine and can simultaneously attack many organ systems at a time.
Depending on the organ involved tuberculosis symptoms shall vary (when the infection occurs outside lungs). For example an infection in the kidneys can cause blood in urine or an infection in the spine can cause severe backache.
When left untreated tuberculosis can be fatal; however with proper medications and care tuberculosis can be treated effectively. Several medications or antibiotics for a long period of time are needed to cure active TB, and people with latent TB should also be on medications to prevent the development of active TB. |
