Tuberculosis (TB) will not cause any symptoms until the infection has reached the lungs. As the bacteria are very slow moving, the condition develops very slowly. Your symptoms might not begin until many years after you were initially exposed to the bacteria.
Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB)
A TB infection of the lungs is known as pulmonary TB. In the UK, just over half of the TB cases in 2009 were pulmonary TB.
Symptoms of pulmonary TB include:
- a persistent cough that brings up thick phlegm, which may be bloody
- breathlessness, which is usually mild to begin with and gradually gets worse
- weight loss
- lack of appetite
- a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
- extreme tiredness
- a sense of feeling unwell
When to get medical help
Always see your GP if you have a cough that lasts for more than three weeks or if you cough up blood.
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB)
In some cases, a TB infection can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body. TB infections that occur outside the lungs are known as extrapulmonary TB.
Extrapulmonary TB is more common in people with weakened immune systems (the body’s natural defence against infection and illness), particularly people with an HIV infection.
A TB infection can spread to:
- lymph nodes that are near the lungs (lymph node TB)
- bones and joints (skeletal TB)
- the digestive system (gastrointestinal TB)
- the bladder and reproductive system (genitourinary TB)
- the nervous system (central nervous system TB)
These types of extrapulmonary TB can cause additional symptoms, which are described below.
Lymph node TB
Lymph nodes are small, oval glands that are part of the immune system. They remove unwanted bacteria and particles from the body. Symptoms of lymph node TB include:
- persistent, painless swelling of the lymph nodes, which usually affects nodes in the neck, but swelling can occur in nodes throughout your body
- over time, the swollen nodes can begin to release a discharge of fluid through the skin
Skeletal TB
Symptoms of skeletal TB include:
- bone pain
- curving of the affected bone or joint
- loss of movement or feeling in the affected bone or joint
- weakened bone that may fracture easily
Gastrointestinal TB
Symptoms of gastrointestinal TB include:
- abdominal pain
- diarrhoea
- bleeding from your anus
Genitourinary TB
Symptoms of genitourinary TB include:
- a burning sensation when you urinate
- blood in your urine
- a frequent urge to pass urine during the night
- groin pain
Central nervous system TB
Your central nervous system consists of your brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of central nervous system TB include:
- headaches
- being sick
- stiff neck
- changes in your mental state, such as confusion
- blurred vision
- fits
