Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a disease that attacks the lungs, but it can spread to the brain and spine if left untreated. The bacteria that causes tuberculosis is called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it’s a contagious disease, it tends to be difficult to catch unless you spend a lot of time around someone who is already infected. When an infected person sneezes, coughs, or even just talks, tiny droplets with the bacteria are sent through the air. If you breathe in these droplets, you risk infection. The disease can’t last on surfaces, so you can’t get the disease by using the same door handle or shaking hands with an infected person.
Tuberculosis comes in two types. Latent tuberculosis is one kind. This is where you have the disease, but it is inactive. You do not show symptoms, and it’s not contagious. Active tuberculosis is when the you become sick from the disease and experience symptoms. It’s possible to spread the bacteria when you have active tuberculosis. The following are a list of signs and symptoms you might experience with tuberculosis. If you think you have tuberculosis, it’s important for you to contact your doctor to be properly tested and receive adequate treatment.
1. Chest Pain
When you contract TB the bacteria tends to attacks the lungs first. Once in the lungs it will begin replicating itself. It creates hardened lumps in the lungs called tubercles that cause inflammation. These tubercles eventually collapse and leave holes and fluid in the lungs. This will continue and spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. This process causes a lot of pain especially in the advanced stages. The type of pain you experience can vary. You may feel a burning sensation. It could be a feeling of tightness or a heaviness like there’s a weight on your chest. It’s possible for the pain to materialize as a general ache in the chest. In severe cases, one of your lungs may collapse. If this happens, you will experience a sharp, stabbing pain that gets worse when you breathe, especially during deep inhales.
Chest pain is most often a sign of serious underlying health issues. Even if you don’t experience other symptoms on this list, you should consider contacting your doctor if you experience severe or ongoing chest pain. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of your chest pain and offer a viable treatment plan.
2. Pain While Breathing
Pain while breathing is a common symptom of TB. As the bacteria replicates in the lungs it causes inflammation. When you breathe in the airflow irritates the inflamed tissue in your lungs. The type of pain you feel depends on the person, but in most people it will emerge as a sharp and stabbing pain. It is possible for to feel a burning sensation or something similar having a tight band around the chest area. Pain while breathing can make it difficult to breath and is considered a serious medical concern. If you experience pain while breathing, seek medical care immediately.
3. Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is a hallmark sign of tuberculosis. In the case of TB, a chronic cough is one that lasts for at least three weeks or longer. It’s caused by the inflammation and breakdown of lung tissue from the bacteria. The cough by TB will be a dry cough, meaning you will not expel phlegm while coughing. You may also experience wheezing. TB is not the only medical issue that causes a persistent cough. Chronic cough is a sign of an underlying health issue. It’s important to set up an appointment with your doctor if you experience a chronic cough.
4. Coughing With Blood
Coughing with blood is a frightening symptom, but it’s not always a sign of serious illness. If you have a wet cough, meaning you’re expelling phlegm, it’s common to see flecks of blood in it. This is caused by irritation in the throat from coughing and is seen in cases of the common cold. When you’re coughing up blood with TB, there won’t be mucus, but you’ll see bright red bits of blood. This is caused by the bacteria destroying tissue within your lungs. If you cough up a lot of blood at once or experience it for an extended time period, seek medical care.
5. Chills
When caused by illness, chills are a prelude to a high temperature. The muscles of your body contract and relax at a rapid pace. This is one way for your body to raise its temperature. It feels like you’re shivering and shaking. If your only symptoms are chills and a low fever of 101.4 or less, it’s not necessary to seek medical care as it can help your body fight mild sickness. However, if you experience chills and a temperature over 103 or chills with a low fever plus other symptoms on this list, you should seek medical care. Chills are sometimes hard to recognize, especially if you are constantly cold. If you suspect you have chills don’t hesitate to consult a health care professional.
6. Fever
A high temperature is one way that your body fights illness. Many viruses and bacteria can not live in an environment with high temperatures, so a temperature up to 100.4 is generally not cause for alarm if other symptoms are not present. When you contract tuberculosis, your body may experience high temperature as it tries to combat the disease. It’s uncommon to experience high temperature without other symptoms present. High temperature is a common symptom in many viral and bacterial infections. If you experience a low fever for more than two weeks or a temperature over 103, seek medical care.
7. Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is the decreased desire to eat. When it occurs you lose the ability to feel hunger as you would normally would feel it. Losing your appetite is considered one of the classic signs of tuberculosis. It is not fully understood how TB causes you to lose your appetite, but it’s seen in most cases. Everyone loses their appetite now and then. Loss of appetite can affect you for short periods of time for minor issues such as stress. If you experience prolonged loss of appetite or start unintentionally loses weight because loss of appetite, you should contact your doctor.
8. Malaise
Malaise is not feeling well, often for no easily discernible reason. It may come in the form of general discomfort. Sometimes it’s an uneasiness. It can be a general pain in throughout the body. Malaise is often one of the first symptoms of illness in the body. It can be caused by numerous illnesses, including tuberculosis. You may experience malaise and fatigue at the same time. This is not uncommon in the first stages of getting sick. It shouldn’t cause alarm by itself as it can be caused by non threatening sickness like the common cold. You should keep an eye out for developing symptoms if you notice malaise.
9. Night Sweats
Night sweats are excessive sweating while sleeping. Often the sweating will be so severe that it drenches the your night clothes and bedding. This will happen repeatedly. This is a common symptom in many health issues, including tuberculosis. Night sweats tend to be accompanied by a fever. There are cases when night sweats are not a symptom of a health issue, such as in older women when they are going through menopause. If you the only symptom you are experiencing is night sweats, then it may be caused by sleeping in a room with a too high temperature or with too many blankets.
10. Swollen Lymph Nodes
Lymph nodes are glands located all over the body. They are small and shaped similarly to a bean. Lymph fluid flows through the lymph nodes and then the lymph nodes help the body filter out waste and harmful substances. Lymph nodes have immune cells in them, and they play an important role in helping the immune system fighting sickness. Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that your body’s immune system is doing its job. The most common place to check for swollen lymph nodes is on the sides of the jaw and neck, but they’re also located under the armpits, around the groin, and throughout the chest.
11. Shortness of Breath
As TB destroys the tissue in your lungs, it makes it harder for the lungs to do their job. This can cause shortness of breath. Shortness of breath is when it feels like you can’t get enough air even when trying to take large breaths or deep inhales. People can experience shortness of breath after extensive activity like exercising. This is normal and will pass. If you experience shortness of breath after doing normal activities or while resting, it may be a sign of an underlying health issue, and you should contact your doctor. Your doctor will be able to diagnose the underlying issue.
12. Unintentional Weight Loss
Unintentional weight loss is when you lose weight without putting effort into losing weight. This can occur for an array of reasons. Some people experience unintentional weight loss during stressful times in their lives such as the loss of a loved one or changing jobs. Unintentional weight loss can be a sign of serious illness. In the case if TB, unintentional weight loss is a side effect of losing your appetite from the sickness. If you unintentionally lose more than five percent of your body weight in a six months time, even if you do not experience other symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor.
