Tuberculosis or TB is an infection caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although it primarily affects the lungs of an individual, it can spread to other parts of the body also. According to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health, tuberculosis spreads through the air when a person infected by the bacteria coughs, sneezes, or talks. According to the World Health Organization, around 2 million people die worldwide due to active tuberculosis each year. MedlinePlus says that tuberculosis symptoms may include respiratory symptoms, appetite and weight related symptoms, or other symptoms.
Respiratory Symptoms
According to MedlinePlus, the long-term symptoms of tuberculosis include respiratory symptoms. A bad cough that lasts for three weeks or longer and does not go away is one of the main symptoms of this infection. The person may also cough up mucus or blood. Chest pain may also be experienced while breathing or coughing.
Appetite and Weight Related Symptoms
According to MedlinePlus, a person infected with the tuberculosis bacteria may exhibit symptoms related to appetite and weight. Loss of appetite is one of the long-term symptoms of tuberculosis. A person infected with the bacteria may also experience weight loss that cannot be explained or that is not related to any conscious efforts to lose weight.
Other Symptoms
According to MedlinePlus, a person with tuberculosis may exhibit certain other symptoms also. A person with an active infection experiences low-grade fever. Chills and night sweats are also reported by tuberculosis patients. The individual complains of feeling excessively tired or fatigued. Familydoctor.org says that if the tuberculosis has spread to the joints, an individual may experience pain that feels like the pain of arthritis. In people where the germ has spread to the bladder, passing urine may be painful and there may be blood in the urine. Back pain and leg paralysis may occur if the bacterium infects the spine. Tuberculosis of the brain may cause symptoms such as nausea and headaches. If left untreated, the brain infection may also cause damage to the brain.
