Tuberculosis

Signs and Symptoms

When the lungs are attacked,it is common for a persistent though not necessarily severe cough to develop,often with an increasing tendency to raise sputum.Occasionally the first alarm signal is the spitting of the blood,which may vary from copious bleeding to a mere streaking of the sputum with red at times.In more cases blood spitting comes later.Sharp pains in the chest maybe due to tuberculosis pleurisy,especially in adults,though not all chest pains are pleurisy and not all persons with lung tuberculosis have the chest pains.


What should be done

1. If there is any suspicion of the presence of tuberculosis,go to a physician immediately for examination.In case of lung tuberculosis,a chest X-ray is the most important part of the examination.
2. Periodic chest X-ray for everyone fifteen years old or older would discover many early cases of tuberculosis,most of which could be cured in a few months.
3. Rest and a nourishing diet are the most important parts of the treatment of tuberculosis of most kinds.
4. Do not spend money for advertised"cures"- none of them have as yet succeeded in enough cases to worthwhile.