Although your body can 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
You have a TB infection, but the bacteria in your body are inactive and cause no symptoms. Latent TB, also called inactive TB or TB infection, isn’t contagious. Latent TB can turn into active TB, so treatment is important.
- Active TB
Also called TB disease, this condition makes you sick and, in most cases, can spread to others. It can occur weeks or years after infection with the TB bacteria.
Signs and symptoms of active TB include:
- Pain in the chest.
- Coughing up blood or phlegm from deep inside the lungs.
- Weakness or feeling very tired.
- Losing weight without trying.
- Loss of appetite
- Having no appetite.
- Chills and fever.
- Night sweats
- A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer.
- Sweating at night or when you are sleeping
Tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body, including the kidneys, spine or brain. When TB occurs outside your lungs, signs and symptoms vary according to the organs involved. For example, tuberculosis of the spine might cause back pain, and tuberculosis in your kidneys might cause blood in your urine.
OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS
The 3 Stages of Tuberculosis you should be Aware of
Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment