Does tuberculosis cause fever?

Written by Wang Xiang Yu

Pulmonology

Updated on September 30, 2024

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Does tuberculosis cause fever? The answer is definitely yes. Fever is one of the most common clinical manifestations of tuberculosis. Many tuberculosis patients experience low fevers, and a minority of patients, such as those with caseous tuberculosis or tuberculous pleurisy, may experience high fevers that can recur and persist. Moreover, tuberculosis patients may sometimes also have concurrent bacterial infections, which can cause the fever to last longer and be more difficult to control.

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Written by Han Jian Hua

Infectious Disease

1min 31sec

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Does tuberculosis infect people?

Tuberculosis is a contagious disease, and hearing the term "tuberculosis" inevitably makes people nervous. However, not all tuberculosis patients are contagious. Research shows that among tuberculosis patients, only those who have tuberculosis bacteria found in sputum smear tests are contagious. With a source of infection, the tuberculosis bacteria must be transmitted to others through certain routes. Airborne transmission is the main route of transmission for tuberculosis bacteria. When a tuberculosis patient coughs, sneezes, or speaks loudly, they release a large number of droplet nuclei containing tuberculosis bacteria into the air, which can be inhaled by healthy individuals and cause infection. The degree of tuberculosis bacteria infection mainly depends on factors such as the amount of bacteria the patient expels, the severity of coughing symptoms, and the extent of contact. Therefore, when there is a tuberculosis patient nearby, we first need to understand whether they are in the active phase of the disease, that is, expelling bacteria, and whether they are undergoing anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. If the patient has a negative sputum test or has undergone chemotherapy for a positive sputum test, such patients have very low contagiousness, so there is no need to worry too much about being infected.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

56sec

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Does tuberculosis cause headaches in its initial stage?

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the lungs, generally transmitted through respiratory droplets or direct contact. When infected with tuberculosis, symptoms that often appear include low-grade fever in the afternoons, coughing, expectoration, hemoptysis, chest pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Some may experience weight loss, fatigue, and night sweats. Therefore, when patients with pulmonary tuberculosis exhibit an afternoon low-grade fever, it often leads to the occurrence of headaches. Therefore, it is very common for patients in the early stages of pulmonary tuberculosis to exhibit various symptoms, primarily due to the rise in body temperature.

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Written by Han Jian Hua

Infectious Disease

1min 19sec

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Can tuberculosis be cured?

Early diagnosis and standard treatment can often cure tuberculosis. Tuberculosis requires anti-tuberculosis treatment. Effective anti-tuberculosis treatment must follow five principles: early intervention, proper dosage, combination therapy, regular administration, and full-course treatment to ensure thorough treatment. Consistency is crucial; one must not stop taking medication, substitute drugs, or alter dosages on their own, as doing so not only makes it difficult to cure the disease but also increases the risk of developing drug resistance and complicates treatment further. Additionally, it is important to supplement nutrition appropriately and maintain a healthy diet in daily life. Since tuberculosis is a chronic, debilitating disease, it is advisable to consume foods rich in calories, proteins, and vitamins. Ensuring adequate rest and sleep is vital. Engaging in moderate physical activities, such as outdoor exercises, while avoiding strenuous activities and factors that could exacerbate conditions, such as overexertion, exposure to cold, and catching a cold, is also important.

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Written by Yuan Lin Yan

Infectious Disease

1min 21sec

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Can tuberculosis be cured?

Tuberculosis can be cured if it is detected early and treated promptly with standard anti-tuberculosis therapy, resulting in a very good prognosis. However, it is very unfortunate if detection is delayed or if standard treatment is not administered, as the tuberculosis may recur or infect with drug-resistant strains, causing permanent damage to lung function. Advanced pulmonary lesions or significant hemoptysis can be life-threatening. Currently, the treatment of tuberculosis involves chemotherapy, with principles including early treatment, combination therapy, appropriate dosing, regularity, and completeness, usually lasting at least six months. Common first-line anti-tuberculosis medications include isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. Initially, a two-month intensive phase of treatment with isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide is followed by a four-month continuation phase with isoniazid and rifampin. During the treatment of tuberculosis, it is important to enhance one's resistance and immune function and to improve nutrition to facilitate recovery. (Use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

39sec

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Is tuberculosis serious?

Tuberculosis is a relatively serious disease, but if it is treated and managed promptly in the early stages, it often can be brought under control and most cases can completely recover. If the disease is allowed to progress unchecked, it can develop from ordinary tuberculosis into an especially severe form of the disease, even endangering life and leading to extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The severity of tuberculosis depends largely on the extent of damage to the lungs and whether there is extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Once tuberculosis is confirmed, scientifically sound and appropriate anti-tuberculosis treatment should be undertaken.