TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF TUBERCULOSIS - Chronic or persistent coughing and sputum production. At advanced stage, sputum will contain blood.

- Fatigue. - Lack of appetite. - Weight loss. - High Fever. - Night sweats.

HOW IS TUBERCULOSIS DIAGNOSED?

For TB infection : by a skin test. A small needle is used to put some fluid, called tuberculin, under the skin on the inside of the arm. After 2 to 3 days, the amount of skin swelling around the test area is measured. A positive reaction usually means that the person has TB infection. For TB disease : by a chest x-ray or a test of a sputum sample.

If there are changes in the lungs, a sample of sputum will be sent for microscopic examination and culture. Culture of tuberculosis bacteria will take 4 to 12 weeks. For this reason, it takes some time before an accurate diagnosis is possible.

TREATMENT.
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In most cases, TB disease can be cured with anti-TB drugs. Usually involves combination three or four different kinds of antibiotics/ several different drugs. Examples of anti-TB durgs are rifampin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and streptomycin. Anti-TB drugs must be taken for 6 months or longer because TB bacteria die very slowly. Persons with TB disease must continue to take their medicine until all the bacteria are killed, even if the symptoms of disease go away and they start to feel better. Not completing the full TB treatment can be very dangerous because the disease will last longer and the person can continue to spread the disease to others, hence an increase in the rate of transmission.