Beyond the Cough: Spotting the Lesser-Known Signs of Tuberculosis

India carries a quarter of the world's tuberculosis burden, and early detection relies on noticing full patterns rather than a single sign. While a cough lasting more than two weeks remains a key warning, the disease often begins with tiredness, lost appetite, or mild weight loss that people mistakenly blame on work or age.

Symptoms Beyond Coughs

Coughs can be dry or bring up phlegm, sometimes showing pink or red streaks of blood that signal lung damage. Patients also experience chest pain that worsens during deep breathing or coughing, along with unusual breathlessness during routine chores like walking short distances. Low fever often rises in the evening, while heavy night sweats soak bedsheets regardless of room temperature.

Other Body Parts Affected

Tuberculosis can affect glands, bones, and other organs outside the lungs, causing slow-growing, painless lumps in the neck. Additional signs include joint pain, backache, headaches, confusion, blood in urine, or abdominal pain. Dr Rajendra Prasad, director of medical education and professor of Pulmonary Medicine at Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, highlights these often-overlooked symptoms.

Context

Government health facilities across the country offer free tuberculosis tests and treatment, while Ayushman Arogya Shivirs provide local screening camps in every district. Catching the condition early improves outcomes for patients and people around them because the disease is fully curable.