Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of
Respiratory TB
.........
Notice any unusual coughing.
.
TB
usually infects the lungs, breaking
down the tissue there. Our body's natural
response is to remove the irritant by
coughing. Figure out how long you've been
coughing; TB usually lasts for more than 3
weeks and may include such worrisome
signs as bloody sputum.
Consider how long you've taken over
the counter cold/flu medications or
antibiotics for a respiratory infection
with no relief. TB needs very specific
antibacterial drugs, and to start therapy
requires screening and confirming TB.
.
.
Look for discharge when coughing.
.
Have you noticed any sputum (sticky
discharge) when coughing? If it smells and
is dark, it can be any type of bacterial
infection. If it's clear and odorless, it can be
a viral infection. Take notice if there's been
any blood when coughing into your hands or
tissues. When TB cavities and nodules form,
nearby blood vessels may get destroyed,
leading to hemoptysis — coughing up blood.
You should always seek expert medical
advice when you cough up blood. He or
she will be able to advise you on how
to proceed.
.
.
Pay attention to chest pain.
.
Chest
pain can suggest a wide variety of
issues, but when taken together with other
symptoms, they can point to TB. If you feel a
sharp pain, it can you point to a specific,
localized area. Note particularly if it hurts
when you apply pressure to that area, or if it
hurts when you breath in and out or when
you cough.
TB forms hard cavities and nodules
against the lungs/chest wall. When we
breath, these hard masses cause
damage to the area, leading to
inflammation at the site. Pain tends to
be sharp, localized to a specific area,
and reproducible when we put
pressure on it.
.
.
Take note of unintentional weight loss
and lack of appetite.
.
The body has a
complex response to the Mycobacterium
tuberculosis bacteria that results in poor
nutrient absorption and altered protein
metabolism. These changes might
persist for months without your noticing
them.
Look in the mirror and note any
changes to your body. If you can see
the outline of your bones, this indicates
you don't have enough muscle mass
due to lack of protein and fat.
Measure your weight on a scale. Use a
previous but recent weight from when
you were feeling healthy as a
comparison. Weight changes vary, but
you should address any drastic
changes with your healthcare provider.
Note whether your clothes feel looser
Keep track of how often you've been
eating and compare it to when you last
felt healthy.
.
.
Do not ignore fever, chills and night
sweats.
.
Bacteria usually reproduce at
around normal body temperature (98.6 F).
The brain and immune system respond by
raising the body's temperature to stop the
bug from reproducing. The rest of the body
detects this change, then attempts to adjust
to this new temperature by contracting
muscles (shivers), making you feel chills. TB
also causes specific inflammatory proteins
that aid in fever production to be produced.

Thanx for the info