Tubercle bacillus, also referred to as tuberculosis or TB, is a contagious bacterium. It spreads through the air when a person with the active form of the disease coughs, sneezes or exhales forcefully. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the clinical symptoms of TB may include a cough lasting three weeks or longer, weakness and fatigue, weight loss, fever, chills and night sweats.
Persistent Cough
One of the common symptoms of active TB disease is a persistent, dry cough that may or may not produce blood in the sputum. If the infectious process in the lungs continues to grow and there is no medical intervention, various types of lesions may develop leading to pulmonary obstruction, effusions and in some advanced cases, permanent lung damage.
Weakness and Fatigue
Untreated cases of TB disease may result in feelings of weakness and fatigue, a sign that the body is battling invading organisms as well as anemia. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential. According to the CDC, antibiotic therapies with drugs specific to the treatment of tuberculosis begin to work against the disease within weeks, easing clinical symptoms and dramatically improving the prognosis.
Weight Loss
Patients with TB may experience loss of appetite and weight loss when the metabolic energy required to fight the disease exceeds dietary intake. This condition is referred to as wasting and is thought to be due to immune responses to the disease, according to Critical Care Nurse Magazine.
Fever, Chills and Night Sweats
Active tuberculosis may cause symptoms that include fever, chills, and night sweats. When bacterial or viral organisms enter the body, immune responses send signals to the hypothalamus, which is located in the brain. The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating body temperature and, in an effort to control deviations from the normal body set point, uses regulating mechanisms such as fever, chills and night sweats to heat and cool the body. Seeking immediate medical treatment and therapy will bring the disease under control and diminish the uncomfortable clinical signs and symptoms of active tuberculosis disease.
References
- CDC: Basic TB Facts:
- "Critical Care Nurse Magazine; Tuberculosis: Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, and Diagnosis; Nancy A. Knechel, RN, MSN, ACP; 2009;29.
- Medline Plus: Pulmonary tuberculosis
- The World Health Organization: Tuberculosis
