Tuberculosis
Symptoms
A Person with Latent TB Infection
- Has no symptoms
- Does not feel sick
- Cannot spread TB bacteria to others
- Usually has a skin or blood test result indicating TB infection
- Has a normal chest x-ray and a negative sputum smear
- Needs treatment for latent TB infection to prevent TB disease
A Person with TB Disease
- Has symptoms that may include
- a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
- pain in the chest
- coughing up blood or sputum
- weakness or fatigue
- weight loss
- no appetite
- chills
- fever
- sweating at night
- Usually feels sick
- May spread TB bacteria to others
- Usually has skin or blood test results indication TB infection
- May have an abnormal chest x-ray, or positive sputum smear or culture
- Needs treatment to treat TB disease