Tuberculosis (TB)

The symptoms of active TB tend to come on gradually. They usually include:

• a cough lasting more than 3 weeks

• a loss of appetite

• unexplained weight loss

• a high temperature or fever

• chills and/or night sweats

• coughing up phlegm (mucus) or blood

• fatigue

• chest pain

Active TB that’s spread to your other organs may bring additional symptoms, including:

• aches and pains in your body

• swollen glands and/or joints

• a headache

• being sick

• pain in your stomach or pelvis

• constipation 

• cloudy or dark urine

• a stiff neck

• a rash on your face, legs, or another part of your body

If you have latent TB, you won’t have any symptoms. The only way to know if you have it is to take a TB test.

TB is caused by a slow-growing bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 

When someone with active TB coughs, sneezes, talks, or laughs, it can spread through the air and be breathed into your lungs. You would usually have to have a lot of contact with someone who has active TB to contract it.

You have a higher risk of developing active TB if:

• you have HIV

• you were born in a country of medium or high TB incidence, such as Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, or Russia

• you’ve lived in 1 of the above countries for over 3 months

• you’ve had TB before

• you have chronic kidney disease

• you have type 2 diabetes

• you have an alcohol or drug addiction

• you’re taking a medication that suppresses your immune system, such as anti-rheumatoid agents or transplant rejection medication

At your initial consultation, one of our leading respiratory specialists will ask you to share your medical history and talk through your symptoms. They may need to conduct a physical examination and run further tests to make a diagnosis. 

These tests may include:

• a skin test

• a blood test

• imaging tests such as an X-ray or CT scan

• phlegm tests

• lung fluid tests

Your consultant will be able to recommend the most appropriate and effective treatment for you once they have an accurate diagnosis.

Preventive medication is available for some people with latent TB who have a higher risk of it developing into active TB.

If you have active TB, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of contracting and spreading the infection: 

• wash your hands properly and often

• cover your mouth when you cough

• cover your nose when you sneeze

• avoid close and prolonged contact with others

Active TB shouldn’t cause any further complications if you get treatment and take it for the full length of time recommended by your consultant. However, it can be life-threatening if it goes untreated.

Treatment for active and latent TB usually includes a combination of antibiotics for at least 6 months. You may need to take the medication for up to 9 months.

After a few weeks of treatment, you might start to feel better, and your symptoms may appear to have reduced. It’s vital to keep taking your medication for the duration of your prescription; otherwise, the infection could return.

At Welbeck, our respiratory specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.