Do I Have Tuberculosis?

Do you have bad cough that lasts three or more weeks?

Do you cough up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)?

Do you have a chest pain?

Do you have unintentional weight loss?

Do you feel weakness or constant fatigue?

Do you have fever?

Do you have night sweats (sweating during the night and waking up with soaking wet sheets)?

Do you have chills?

Have you lost your appetite?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious illness caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a contagious disease. It can be spread by tiny droplets thrown into the air through the cough and sneeze of an infected person. Tuberculosis used to be rare in the United States, but with the advent of the virus that causes AIDS and weakens the immune system, tuberculosis is becoming more common. Tuberculosis usually attacks your lungs, but other parts of the body can also be affected such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that usually affects your lungs. There are two types of tuberculosis: latent TB and active TB. Latent TB or inactive TB is a condition in which you have a TB infection, but your immune system is strong enough to prevent you from becoming sick. People with latent TB are not contagious, but they still need treatment to prevent latent TB from turning into active TB. Active TB is a condition in which TB bacteria are active. They multiply in your body causing disease.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. Tuberculosis mainly attacks the lungs and was the leading cause of death in the United States in the 20th century. Diagnosing tuberculosis is based on your physical examination, skin and blood tests, imagining tests such as a chest X-ray or a CT scan, and a sputum test. Treatment includes antibiotics, but tuberculosis needs to be treated much longer than other types of bacterial infections. Your doctor will recommend the best treatment option for you depending on your overall health, age and possible resistance to certain medications.