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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffAlthough your body may harbor the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, your immune system usually can prevent you from becoming sick. For this reason, doctors make a distinction between:
- Latent TB. In this condition, you have a TB infection, but the bacteria remain in your body in an inactive state and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn't contagious.
- Active TB. This condition makes you sick and can spread to others. It can occur in the first few weeks after infection with the TB bacteria, or it might occur years later. Most people infected with TB germs never develop active TB.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
- Cough
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Chills
- Loss of appetite
What organs are affected?
Tuberculosis usually attacks your lungs. Signs and symptoms of TB of the lungs include:
- Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
- Coughing up blood
- Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
But tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including your kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis of the spine may give you back pain, and tuberculosis in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have a fever, unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats or a persistent cough. These are often signs of TB, but they can also result from other medical problems. Your doctor can perform tests to help determine the cause.
- Questions and answers about tuberculosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/faqs/pdfs/qa.pdf. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
- Iseman MC. Tuberculosis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/225812607-4/1080378836/1492/1198.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50350-5_14828. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
- Fort GG, et al. Tuberculosis, pulmonary. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00029-9--sc0195&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1085763505&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00029-9--sc0195&uniqId=227265748-6#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00029-9--sc0195. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
- Horsburgh CR. Epidemiology of tuberculosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
- Pasipanodya J, et al. Tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00004-1--sc0110&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00004-1--s1380&uniqId=230355386-4. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Fort GG, et al. Tuberculosis, miliary. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00029-9--sc0190&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1085763505&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00029-9--sc0190&uniqId=227265748-6#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00029-9--sc0190. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
- Bernardo J. Diagnosis of tuberculosis in HIV-seronegative patients. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
- Staying on track with TB medicine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/pamphlets/TB_trtmnt.pdf. Accessed Nov. 24, 2010.
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