Clinical manifestations
- LTBI – asymptomatic
- Cannot spread TB bacteria to others
- Usually has a skin test 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 active TB disease
- Pulmonary TB
- Takes 2-3 weeks to develop symptoms
- Initial dry cough that becomes productive
- Constitutional symptoms (fatigue, malaise, anorexia, weight loss, low-grade fever, night sweats)
- Dyspnea and hemoptysis late symptoms
- Cough becomes frequent
- Hemoptysis is not common and is usually associated with advanced disease
- Dyspnea is unusual
- Can also present more acutely
- High fever
- Chills, generalized flulike symptoms
- Pleuritic pain
- Productive cough
- Crackles and/or adventitious breath sounds
- Extrapulmonary TB manifestations dependent on organs infected
- Immunosuppressed people and older adults are less likely to have fever and other signs of an infection
- Carefully investigate respiratory problems in HIV patients
- Rule out opportunistic diseases
- A change in cognitive function may be the only initial sign of TB in an older person
- Carefully investigate respiratory problems in HIV patients
