Symptoms of TUBERCULOSIS (TB)

Most commonly, early stages of tuberculosis have no symptoms. Sometimes, the person infected may have cough and fever. As the disease progresses, it produces more apparent symptoms. These include fever, weight loss, chronic fatigue, and heavy sweating, especially at night. As tuberculosis worsens in the lungs, it produces sputum that becomes progressively bloody, yellow, thick or gray. There is often chest pain or discomfort and shortness of breath. Cloudy or reddish urine can occur. Other symptoms can develop when other organ systems become involved, such as the brain. Lumps may develop in the nasal cavity. Pott's disease or tuberculosis of the spine is associated with back pain, fever, chills and night sweats. Varying degrees of weakness or numbness may occur in the legs or around the genitals and rectum.