Symptoms and susceptibility & Tests and completing treatment
Lesson 2 · 5 min
Based on MedlinePlus en español — Tuberculosis: Latent Infection and Active Disease. Original educational summary, read by a medical doctor and confirmed reliable, pending formal approval. Not medical advice.
Learning objectives
- Explain symptoms and susceptibility.
- Explain tests and completing treatment.
Symptoms and susceptibility
Active disease may cause fever, night sweats, weight loss, poor appetite, weakness, and fatigue. Lung disease can cause cough longer than three weeks, sputum or blood, and chest pain. Symptoms depend partly on the involved site. HIV, diabetes, weakened immunity, very young age, or older age increase progression risk after infection. Exposure, infection, and development of active illness are separate concerns rather than one inevitable sequence.
Tests and completing treatment
Blood or skin tests show evidence of infection; chest imaging and sputum evaluation help distinguish active lung disease. Latent and active forms are treated with antibiotics according to the prescribed plan. Stopping when symptoms improve can leave bacteria and contribute to resistance. Infection tests alone do not answer every question about activity. Completing directions and follow-up supports effective treatment instead of assuming feeling better means the infection is fully addressed.
Key concepts
- Airborne spread of tuberculosis bacteria
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis usually affects lungs but can involve kidneys, spine, or brain.
- Latent infection versus active illness
- Latent infection means bacteria remain without causing symptoms, and the person cannot transmit TB.
- Symptoms and susceptibility
- Active disease may cause fever, night sweats, weight loss, poor appetite, weakness, and fatigue.
- Tests and completing treatment
- Blood or skin tests show evidence of infection; chest imaging and sputum evaluation help distinguish active lung disease.