How to Know if a Person Has TB

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HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 25: Tuberculosis > How to Know if a Person Has TB

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In this chapter:

If someone with signs of TB in the lungs has negative sputum tests, they should see a health worker who can use a chest x-ray to check for signs of pneumonia, asthma, or cancer of the lungs.

The most common sign of TB is a cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks, especially if there is blood in the sputum (mucus that comes up from the lungs). Other signs include loss of appetite and weight, fever, feeling tired or weak, and night sweats.

The only way to know for sure if a person has TB is to test their sputum. To get a sample of sputum—and not just saliva (spit)—a person must cough hard to bring up material from deep in their lungs. The sputum is then examined in a laboratory to see if it contains TB germs (is positive).

A person should take 3 sputum tests. If at least 2 sputum tests are positive, the person should begin treatment. If only one test is positive, they should have their sputum tested again and, if it is positive, begin treatment. If the third test is negative, they should get a chest x-ray, if possible, to be certain they do not need treatment. They should also be tested for HIV since negative sputum tests are more common in people with HIV.

IMPORTANT! Because it is so common for people with HIV to be sick and die from TB, all people with HIV should be tested for TB. If their TB test is positive, a person should begin treatment right away. And in countries where HIV is common, all people with TB should consider getting an HIV test.

This page was updated:13 Nov 2023