{"id":9030,"date":"2019-08-16T10:12:22","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T10:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9030"},"modified":"2021-06-21T12:37:50","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T12:37:50","slug":"14-known-signs-of-tuberculosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-known-signs-of-tuberculosis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Known Signs of Tuberculosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It is a rare condition in the United States, but when it occurs there are less than 200,000 cases each year. Tuberculosis can be prevented if you get a vaccine. It spreads with airborne droplets. When people sneeze, laugh, or cough, it can cause tuberculosis. A person who is infected with tuberculosis can spread it to someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to find out if you have been affected by tuberculosis, you need to seek help from a medical professional. A medical professional will take imaging tests to see what is going on in your body. The results will come back that you have tuberculosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of times when people have tuberculosis, they don\u2019t have any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they will have a cough. If the cough gets worse, you\u2019ll want to seek medical attention right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are eight known signs of tuberculosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Loss of appetite is a sign you have tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria infection is messing with your appetite. When you\u2019re sick, it affects your appetite. If you wait too long to eat, you will get sicker. It is time to go to the doctor if you have not eaten for a certain period of time. With tuberculosis, blood and imaging tests will be taken. The doctor will prescribe antibiotics and a medicine to help with your appetite. While you are trying to get rid of tuberculosis, you\u2019ll need to stay away from others because you can pass it onto them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have to be around others, wear a mask. When your appetite comes back, you may want to eat in a separate room that no one else will come in. The room will need to be disinfected as soon as you leave out. The person cleaning the room will need to have protective clothing and a mask on as well.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Coughing up blood is another sign you have tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you cough for a long period of time, blood will come up. A lot of times, when the blood vessels are unable to flow properly through the body, it has to come out some kind of way. The infection as a spread and the only way to get rid of it is with antibiotics. People already with an infectious disease, such as HIV<\/a>, may cough up blood. The person needs to seek medical treatment right away because after awhile it may cause the person to cough up blood uncontrollably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes a person can choke on their own blood and can lead to death. It is a serious condition and needs to be taken care of immediately. The coughing of blood should cease once the person gets antibiotics in his or her body. When coughing up blood, it can spread easier too.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Night sweats are another sign that you have tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacterial infection is making you sick and it has to come out some kind of way. Night sweats<\/a> can occur during any time of the year. Even if you don\u2019t wear a lot of clothing to bed or have a lot of blankets on the bed, the night sweats will still occur. Tuberculosis can\u2019t go away on its own. Reoccurring night sweats will need to be checked out by a doctor. The doctor should give you a complete physical examination to see what illness you may have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once it shows that you have tuberculosis, the doctor will tell you what you need to do. You will still need to get rest and the night sweats will last since the antibiotics take a long time to heal tuberculosis. As soon as the antibiotics start working, you should notice that your night sweats are going away.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Feeling tired all of the time is a known sign to look out for when you have tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The bacterial infection is making you tired. You\u2019ll want to lie down and go to sleep. This should cause concern for you if you have been active before. Even drinking coffee on a regular basis won\u2019t help the problem. If you decide to let yourself sleep all of the time, you\u2019re just prolonging getting better. This will allow the infection <\/a>to spread to all parts of your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tired feeling is not going to go away on its own, no matter how many methods you try. For instance, one day that you become tired and lie down, you may not wake up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the emergency room, they will try to revive you, but if you let it prolong, it may cause death. Tiredness is a sign that you need medical treatment right away.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Weight loss is another sign of tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Weight loss<\/a> occurs because you don\u2019t have an appetite. It is not good to lose too much weight. It will mess up your other organs. Tuberculosis is already spreading throughout your body. It starts in your lungs, but if it doesn\u2019t get treated quick enough it will spread. Since your lungs are affected, it may become difficult to swallow. Whenever you try to eat something, you may vomit. Even drinking water will become difficult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you go to the doctor, the doctor will notice that you\u2019re losing too much weight. Some doctors will think you\u2019re bulimic or anorexic. You have to explain that you don\u2019t feel well and can\u2019t eat. That\u2019s the reason blood and imaging tests are given to get an accurate diagnosis. It will show that you have tuberculosis, which will give the doctor an idea of what medicines he or she needs to give you.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Chills is another known sign of tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even in the summertime, the chills will appear. You\u2019ll want to cover yourself with a blanket. Tuberculosis <\/a>is making you sick and your body is unable to fight off the infection. You may feel as if you have the flu or a cold, but it\u2019s more serious than that. When the chills last a long time, it\u2019s best to talk to your primary care physician. He or she will notice that your entire body is cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A thorough examination can determine exactly what you have. Your lungs will be checked as well. The doctor will have an imaging test done on you to see what is wrong with them. Your lungs may become swollen because of the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopefully, you\u2019re not having other symptoms, such as coughing up blood. The doctor may place you in the hospital because if the chills are of concern to him or her.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Cough lasting more than three weeks is a known sign of tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Persistent coughing can be a nuisance for people around you. You may think you have allergies <\/a>or catching a cold, but in fact, you have tuberculosis. When you cough too much, your chest will begin to hurt. Your chest will become sore. You\u2019ll want to lie down and rest because that is the only way you will get relief, but once you wake up the cough will come back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coughing shouldn\u2019t last for three weeks. By going to your doctor, the doctor will conduct a series of medical tests that will show him or her what you may have. The doctor may not get the right diagnosis at first, but if you go back, the doctor should figure it out. Also, it\u2019s best to go to more than one doctor for an opinion. Some doctors are known to diagnose the wrong illness.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Chest pain is a known sign of tuberculosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The reason for the chest pain is because your lungs are infected. When the lungs are infected, it causes you to cough. The more you cough, the more pain you\u2019ll feel in your chest. Sometimes too much coughing can lead to other health conditions. Once you notice your chest pain is lasting for a long period of time, it\u2019s time to get it checked out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could possibly have a heart attack with chest pains. You\u2019ll have to go to the emergency room where they\u2019ll keep you for a few days until they find out why you are having chest pains. Antibiotics <\/a>will be given because tuberculosis will be diagnosed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pain medicine may be given to help with the chest pain. The chest pain may take a long time to go away, but the antibiotics and pain medicine will eventually kick in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Fever is a Sign of Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who experience an infection with the tuberculosis bacteria may experience the onset of a mild fever. The fever <\/a>is not high, and most patients will only experience sensations of mild discomfort. The fever is also mild enough to allow the person to conduct their regular daily activities without it getting in the way of their functionality. The fever symptoms can be so mild that some patients may not even realize they are sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fever occurs in the body as a natural response to infection. When the brain detects the presence of a pathogen in the body, it signals the hypothalamus to increase body temperature. Turning up the heat helps the body to eliminate the bacterial or viral infection. Pyrogen proteins attach to nerve endings in the lower back and signal the nervous system to increase body temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more pyrogens produced in the body, the higher the fever. However, as mentioned, fever symptoms in patients with TB are typically mild and not cause for immediate concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Malaise is s Sign of Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who develop TB, and don\u2019t have access to medical care, may start to show signs of malaise. Malaise <\/a>describes a condition where the patient experiences feelings of dread about their current state of health. Homeless people don\u2019t have the money to access proper medical care. As a result, they are more likely to abstain from visiting a doctor\u2019s office for a diagnosis.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the disease starts to take hold of the body, and symptoms start to intensify, the person may begin to experience malaise. The affected individual realizes that there is something wrong with them, and their mind starts to wander with the possibilities. As a result of the uncertainty involved with the situation, the patient begins to go into a depression about their state of physical health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In almost all cases, the patient will experience a lifting of malaise symptoms after receiving a medical diagnosis of their condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Low Immune Function is a Sign of Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

TB typically only presents symptoms in patients with low immune function. The immune system<\/a> is the body’s action center for fighting off invading pathogens. When it’s in a weakened state, it’s challenging for the body to rid itself of diseases. People with a weak immune system get sick more frequently, and they also experience the worst symptoms that the pathogen has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people exposed to TB bacteria will get rid of it without even knowing that they were infected. However, people who are living with a disease like HIV\/AIDs or diabetes may find that their immune function is at a deficient level. As a result, they are more inclined to contract TB and start to show signs of infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are dealing with some form of the condition that affects the health of your immune system, and you start to notice the signs of TB, contact your doctor immediately. Curing TB infection relies on early diagnosis to combat the bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Wheezing is a Sign of Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tuberculosis bacteria causes inflammation of tissues in the lungs. The inflammation may cause swelling of the bronchiole and alveoli <\/a>in the lungs. The bronchiole is the tiny tubes that draw air from the lungs into the alveoli. The alveoli exchange CO2 from the blood, with oxygen from breathing. Patients who are dealing with a case of TB find that these two critical components of the lungs start to experience inflammation and an increase in mucus production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of the condition, the patient starts to develop a cough. The coughing symptoms are mild in the first initial stages of the disease. However, as the bacteria colonizes in the lungs, the coughing symptoms intensify. The patient may also start to experience the onset of wheezing symptoms as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wheezing is a sign that the lungs are under extreme duress. The gaseous exchange in the lungs is deteriorating, and the patient may start to notice the onset of shortness of breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

13. Shortness of Breath is a Sign of Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the coughing symptoms start to intensify, and the patient develops wheezing, they may also notice that they begin to develop shortness of breath. This symptom typically occurs after periods where the patients exert themselves physically. The patient may be climbing a set of stairs or walking briskly to a destination. They find that they have trouble catching their breath, and they may start to feel lightheaded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TB causes an imbalance in the gaseous exchange of CO2 and oxygen in the lungs. As a result, the patient may not be able to drive enough new oxygen into the bloodstream <\/a>to fuel exercise. The lack of oxygenated blood starts to cause the person to breathe harder, and they may also experience weakness as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom of shortness of breath is a sign that TB is slowly taking over the respiratory system. Patients who notice this symptom, along with wheezing, require immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

14. Swelling in the Brain is a Sign of Tuberculosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with tuberculosis infection may find that they start to notice the presence of a headache. This symptom is a sign that the disease is beginning to cause the onset of encephalitis <\/a>in the brain tissues. Encephalitis describes a swelling in the brain that causes interference with the usual cognitive processing of information. As a result, the patient may start to experience symptoms of confusion and unclear thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The swelling of the brain can be a life-threatening disorder if left undiagnosed and untreated. As the tissues in the brain expand, it causes symptoms of a headache, due to the increase in inter-cranial pressure in the patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient does not seek immediate medical treatment to relieve the symptoms of swelling, it may result in the development of seizures that could leave the patient in a coma. In some cases, the swelling may be mild, and the patient only experiences mild headaches that persist for a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>