Local symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis

Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on December 10, 2024
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The local symptoms of tuberculosis primarily require us to understand where tuberculosis occurs. Currently, tuberculosis in the lung tissues, trachea, bronchi, and pleura are all classified as pulmonary tuberculosis. The primary local symptoms are still respiratory symptoms, with the most common being cough and expectoration. Patients with tuberculosis generally have a slow onset, with most experiencing cough and expectoration that can persist for two weeks or more. Some patients may also exhibit symptoms like blood in the sputum or hemoptysis. Additionally, some patients may experience other symptoms; for example, those with pleural involvement might have irritative cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, while those with tracheobronchial involvement might exhibit a prolonged irritative cough. Some patients may also develop bronchial stenosis, which can lead to difficulty breathing.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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Can people with tuberculosis drink alcohol?

Whether patients with tuberculosis can drink alcohol, first of all, it is important to know that tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease and a consumptive disease that consumes the body's calories. Drinking alcohol can affect the body's absorption of energy. Moreover, most patients with tuberculosis need to take anti-tuberculosis medication, most of which are metabolized through the liver and can cause varying degrees of liver damage. Drinking alcohol can exacerbate liver damage and reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Additionally, since there are many types of anti-tuberculosis medications for tuberculosis patients, some medications may cause adverse reactions when drinking alcohol. Therefore, all tuberculosis patients must strictly abstain from drinking alcohol during treatment.

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Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
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Is tuberculosis contagious?

Firstly, pulmonary tuberculosis is contagious, but it also depends on the type. Generally, pulmonary tuberculosis is most contagious during its active phase, but some patients with fibrosis and in a stable phase are not contagious. The transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis is mainly through droplets, spread by talking, sneezing, or spitting from a tuberculosis patient to a healthy person. However, this droplet transmission has a distance requirement. We believe that a distance of more than 1 meter is relatively safe, and 2 meters is absolutely safe. To prevent the transmission of tuberculosis, it is essential to maintain a distance from tuberculosis patients, wear masks, and ensure frequent ventilation by opening windows.

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Written by Han Jian Hua
Infectious Disease
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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 Hu Xue Jun
Pulmonology
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Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis

Now let me talk about the symptoms of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can invade many organs, with pulmonary tuberculosis being the most common. The main symptoms are respiratory symptoms and systemic symptoms. The respiratory symptoms are mainly manifested as coughing, expectoration for more than two weeks, or blood in the sputum, which are common suspicious symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. Generally, the cough is mild, either dry or with a small amount of mucus. When cavities form, the amount of sputum may increase, and if there is a secondary bacterial infection, the sputum may become purulent. If there is concomitant bronchial tuberculosis, it will manifest as an irritating cough. About one-third of patients will experience hemoptysis, and some may experience massive hemoptysis. If the tuberculosis lesions involve the pleura, it can manifest as chest pain. Dyspnea is more common in patients with caseous pneumonia or those with a large amount of pleural effusion. These are local symptoms. Systemic symptoms mainly manifest as fever, which is the most common manifestation, often as long-term afternoon fever, meaning it begins to rise in the afternoon or evening, drops in the morning, and then returns to normal. Some patients may also experience fatigue, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, etc. Women of childbearing age may experience menstrual disorders, etc.

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Written by Yuan Lin Yan
Infectious Disease
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Is tuberculosis contagious?

Not all cases of tuberculosis are infectious. Some tuberculosis cases are infectious in the early stages but become non-infectious after proper treatment. Patients with open tuberculosis are highly contagious because their sputum contains tuberculosis bacilli. These bacilli can be released into the air through coughing, sneezing, laughing, or loud speaking, and can cause infection when inhaled by others. Some tuberculosis patients do not have detectable bacilli in their sputum, and their infectiousness is relatively much lower.