Manifestation of Primary Tuberculosis in Adults
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Testing
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According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors may use a skin test or a blood test to identify tuberculosis bacteria in a patient.
Primary Symptoms
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An active TB lung infection may cause a patient to cough up blood or cough for 3 weeks or longer. Coughing and breathing can result in pain in the chest.
Other Symptoms
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Fever, fatigue and unexplained weight loss may occur in patients with an active tuberculosis infection.
Complications
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Untreated tuberculosis infections can result in serious lung damage. Tuberculosis that has not been diagnosed may spread to other parts of the body.
Latent Tuberculosis
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Latent tuberculosis, or inactive tuberculosis, occurs in patients infected with the TB bacteria who suffer no TB symptoms. Latent TB can become an active infection after years of inactivity.
Treatment
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Tuberculosis patients are treated with antibiotic drugs that may need to be taken for more than 6 months in order to destroy the bacteria causing the TB.
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