What are the symptoms?
The main Symptoms are :
- A chronic cough
- Coughing up sputum or blood
- Chest pain
- Extreme fever
- Night sweats or chills
- Breathing difficulty (dyspnea)
- Energy loss and exhaustion
- Appetite loss and unintentional weight loss
- Child growth problems
How are they diagnosed?
Your doctor will thoroughly review your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination to determine whether you have tuberculosis or a nontuberculous mycobacterial condition. Additionally, they might request additional testing, such as:
- A blood test
- Bronchoscopy
- Chest x-ray
- Breath test
- A skin test
- Pneumonia culture
How are they treated?
Considering the type and severity of the disease, your general health, and your age, your doctor will prepare a personalized treatment plan. Medication and short-term hospitalization are frequently part of treatment programs.
Your doctor might ask you to change your lifestyle, like smoking, drinking, etc. Antibiotics and other medications to kill the bacteria can also be suggested. Surgery can be necessary to address the resultant lung damage if TB is not treated early or treatment is not adhered to.