TB most commonly affects the lungs (75% or more), where it is called
pulmonary TB. If the symptoms persist for more than 3 weeks and the
patient should contact with the local physician and get the symptoms evaluated.
Systemic symptoms include
Fever
Chills
Night Sweats
Appetite loss
Easy fatiguability
The diesease literally eats the patient from within hence the word
"consumption" has also been used often to describe the disease. It has
been found that the people from Asian and African descent have lymph node TB more often than Caucasians. Lymph node TB is not contagious. Extrapulmonary sites include the pleura, central nervous system (meningitis), lymphatic system (scrofula of the neck), genitourinary system, and bones and joints ( Potts Disease of the spine). An especially serious form is disseminated, or miliary TB, so named because the lung lesions so-formed resemble millet seeds on x-ray. These are more common in immunosuppressed persons and in young children. Pulmonary TB may co-exist with extrapulmonary TB.
A complete medical evaluation for TB includes a medical history, a physical examination, a tuberculin skin test, a serological test, a chest X-ray, and microbiologic smears and cultures. The measurement of a positive skin test depends upon the person's risk factors for progression of TB infection to TB disease. Bacteriophage-based assays are among a few new testing procedures that offer the hope of cheap, fast and accurate TB testing for the impoverished countries that need it most.
