Symptoms for Tuberculosis (TB)?
Symptoms can vary depending on which part of the body is infected. Tuberculosis can infect almost any part of the body including, but not limited to, the lungs, heart, brain, bone, spine, stomach, kidneys, and fallopian tubes. The specific symptoms depend on the area of the body infected. Some general symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, night sweats, and fatigue.
- Pulmonary Tuberculosis occurs when the organism infects the lungs. Symptoms include a cough, which may be dry or productive of phlegm. Often, there is coughing up of blood. An examination may not reveal any significant abnormalities. Occasionally, the doctor may detect the presence of fluid collection in the lungs. Mild fever, headache, chills, night sweats, Malaise (feeling unwell), fatigue, Loss of appetite, weight loss, cough, with or without mucus and pus, coughing up blood, chest pain from pleurisy, difficulty breathing, and swollen glands
- Tuberculosis Meningitis -- is a Tuberculosis infection of the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms may start with irritability and restlessness. Eventually, the patient develops stiff neck, headache, vomiting, Seizures, changes in mental condition or behavior, or coma.
- Intestinal Tuberculosis -- is an infection of the intestinal tract. It was not very common in the United States until AIDS. Some of the symptoms include stomach pain, Diarrhea, Intestinal Obstruction, granuloma formation, intestinal ulcerations with bleeding, or narrowing of the intestines.
- Tuberculosis lymphadenitis -- involves M Tuberculosis infecting the lymph nodes, causing enlargement of the nodes and forming masses in the neck. This is known as scrofula, and may sometimes drain to the skin.
- Tuberculosis Pericarditis -- occurs when the organism invades and infects the lining of the heart. This can cause fluid build-up around the heart, leading to more significant problems, including shortness of breath, fluid build-up in the lungs, Low Blood Pressure, and even death.
- Tuberculosis peritonitis -- involves an infection and fluid build-up in the abdomen. This is often very difficult to diagnose and is often missed. In addition to build-up of fluid in the abdomen, symptoms may include fever, weight loss, and weakness. Even with testing of the fluid, it is difficult to diagnose and may necessitate Laparoscopy to confirm diagnosis.
- Tuberculosis salpingitis -- is an infection of the uterine fallopian tubes that causes pelvic pain. Examination may reveal the presence of masses in the pelvis, and the patient may report irregular periods. It is not sexually transmitted.
It is important to understand that many of these symptoms may also be present with numerous other medical conditions. Quite often, Tuberculosis is not even suspected until other more common conditions are treated without success.
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