From the Guidelines
Patients with tuberculosis (TB) may experience a range of symptoms including persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, often with blood-streaked sputum, as well as other symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, fever, night sweats, and loss of appetite. The cough is typically productive and worsens over time as the infection progresses, as noted in the most recent guidelines 1. Patients may also develop shortness of breath, especially in advanced cases. TB can spread beyond the lungs (extrapulmonary TB), causing symptoms specific to the affected organs such as lymph node swelling, bone pain, meningitis, or abdominal pain. These symptoms develop gradually as Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria multiply in the lungs or other tissues, triggering an inflammatory response, as discussed in 1. The classic night sweats occur as the body attempts to fight the infection, while weight loss results from metabolic changes and decreased appetite. Some patients, particularly those with latent TB infection, may remain asymptomatic until their immune system becomes compromised. Early recognition of these symptoms is crucial for prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent disease progression and transmission to others, as emphasized in 1. Key symptoms to consider include:
- Persistent cough lasting more than two weeks
- Blood-streaked sputum
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Shortness of breath
- Lymph node swelling
- Bone pain
- Meningitis
- Abdominal pain It is essential to consider these symptoms in the context of the patient's overall health and medical history, as well as the prevalence of TB in the patient's geographic area, as noted in 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Tuberculosis
- Weight loss 2
- Fever 2
- Night sweats 2
- Cough and sputum production are common symptoms, although not explicitly mentioned in the provided studies, they are well-known symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis
Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Symptoms
- Isolated bone marrow tuberculosis can present with nonspecific symptoms such as weight loss, fever, and night sweats, without signs of pulmonary involvement 2
Treatment-Related Symptoms
- Hepatotoxicity is a potential side effect of antituberculosis drugs, including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol 3
- Other side effects may occur, but are not specified in the provided studies
Disease Progression and Treatment Outcomes
- Successful treatment outcomes can be achieved with a regimen of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol given daily for 6 months 3
- Treatment failure can occur due to noncompliance or resistance of tubercle bacilli to antimicrobial agents 4
- Relapse can occur after completion of treatment, but the risk can be minimized with proper treatment and follow-up 3, 5