Symptoms of pulmonary  tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) will not cause any symptoms until the infection has reached the lungs. As the bacteria are very slow moving, your symptoms might not begin for many years after the initial exposure to the bacteria has taken place.

A TB infection of the lungs is known as pulmonary tuberculosis.

Symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis include:

• a persistent cough that brings up phlegm (thick mucus), which may be bloody,
• breathlessness: symptoms of breathlessness are usually mild to begin with before gradually getting worse,
• weight loss,
• lack of appetite,
• fever: a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above,
• fatigue, and
• a general sense of feeling unwell.