Tuberculosis: 7 symptoms that may indicate infection

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus de Koch (BK) that usually affects the lungs, but can affect any other area of the body, such as the bones, intestine or bladder. In general, this disease causes symptoms such as tiredness, lack of appetite, sweating or fever, but according to the affected organ, it may also show other specific symptoms such as bloody cough or weight loss.

So, if you think you may have tuberculosis, check the most general symptoms you are feeling:

1. Cough for more than 3 weeks Yes No
2. Coughing up blood Yes No
3. Pain when breathing or coughing Yes No
4. Feeling of shortness of breath Yes No
5. Constant low fever Yes No
6. Night sweats that can disrupt sleep Yes No
7. Weight loss for no apparent reason Yes No

Associated with these symptoms, others specific to pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis appear.

1. Pulmonary tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common form of tuberculosis and is characterized by the involvement of the lungs. Thus, in addition to the general symptoms of tuberculosis, there are other symptoms, such as:

Cough for 3 weeks, initially dry and then with phlegm, pus or blood; Chest pain, close to the chest; Difficulty breathing; Production of greenish or yellowish sputum.

Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis are not always noticed at the onset of the disease, and sometimes the individual may have been infected for a few months and have not yet sought medical help.

2. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, which affects other organs and other parts of our body, such as kidneys, bones, intestines and meninges, for example, causes general symptoms such as weight loss, sweating, fever or tiredness.

In addition to these symptoms, you may experience pain and swelling where the bacillus is housed, but since the disease is not in the lung, there are no respiratory symptoms involved, such as a bloody cough.

Thus, if tuberculosis symptoms are identified, one should go to the hospital or health center to confirm the diagnosis of pleural, intestinal, urinary, miliary or renal tuberculosis, for example and, if necessary, start treatment. Read more about the different types of tuberculosis.

Symptoms of childhood tuberculosis

Tuberculosis in children and adolescents causes the same symptoms as in adults, leading to fever, tiredness, lack of appetite, coughing for more than 3 weeks and, sometimes, an enlarged ganglion (water).

It usually takes a few months to diagnose the disease, as it can be confused with others, and tuberculosis can be pulmonary or extra-pulmonary, affecting other organs of the child.

How the treatment is done

Treatment for tuberculosis is free and is usually done with the daily dose of medications, such as Rifampicin, for at least 8 months. However, treatment can take 2 years or more, if not followed correctly, or if it is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

In this way, the person should be instructed on how long he should take the medications and alert him to take the medications every day, always at the same time. Learn more about treatment options and duration.