--- title: "Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | HealthAnswers" description: "Tuberculosis (TB) — symptoms, latent vs active infection, testing, NHS treatment, and when to seek urgent help." url: https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/tuberculosis/ robots: noindex --- # Tuberculosis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | HealthAnswers Health A–Z Tuberculosis (TB) — symptoms, latent vs active infection, testing, NHS treatment, and when to seek urgent help. Written by HealthAnswers editorial team Medically reviewed by [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) Reviewed 3 July 2026 ## Quick answer What is tuberculosis? Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection usually affecting the lungs — causing persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads through close prolonged contact via cough droplets. Latent TB has no symptoms but can reactivate — treated to prevent active disease. Active TB needs months of antibiotics — usually 6 months combination therapy on the NHS. See a GP if you have cough over 3 weeks with weight loss or night sweats, or if you were born in or travelled to high-TB countries. General UK health information, not a diagnosis. In an emergency call 999 ; for urgent advice use [NHS 111](https://111.nhs.uk/) (GP out-of-hours in Northern Ireland). On this page 8 sections ## Key facts about tuberculosis - TB is curable with prolonged antibiotic courses — stopping early causes drug resistance. - Latent TB — infection without symptoms — treated in UK for those at high reactivation risk. - Classic symptoms — cough over 3 weeks, haemoptysis, night sweats, weight loss, fever. - BCG vaccine offered to some babies in high-risk areas — not routine UK-wide. - Multidrug-resistant TB exists — requires specialist treatment and isolation. ## Tuberculosis (TB) — still present in the UK **Tuberculosis** is infection with ***Mycobacterium tuberculosis*** — most often **lungs (pulmonary TB)** but can affect **any organ** (extrapulmonary TB). UK incidence is **low compared globally** but **concentrated in urban areas** and **migrant communities from high-prevalence countries**. **Drug-sensitive TB is curable** — treatment requires **months of [antibiotics](https://healthanswers.co.uk/treatments/antibiotics/)** and **public health support**. ## Pulmonary TB symptoms **Classic triad:** - persistent [cough](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/cough/) >3 weeks - weight loss - [night sweats](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/night-sweats/) Also: - haemoptysis — blood in sputum - [fever](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/high-temperature/) , fatigue - [chest pain](https://healthanswers.co.uk/symptoms/chest-pain/) , breathlessness **Insidious onset** — weeks to months — not sudden like [pneumonia](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/pneumonia/). ## Extrapulmonary TB | Site | Features | | --- | --- | | Lymph nodes | Painless neck swelling — scrofula | | Spine (Pott disease) | Back pain, deformity | | Brain (TB meningitis) | Headache, meningism — emergency | | Abdominal | Pain, weight loss | | Genitourinary | Sterile pyuria | **HIV co-infection** — atypical presentation, faster progression — see [HIV](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/hiv/) guide. ## Latent vs active **Latent TB infection (LTBI):** - positive IGRA/Mantoux blood or skin test - normal chest [X-ray](https://healthanswers.co.uk/tests/x-ray/) - no symptoms - not infectious - treatment offered if high reactivation risk — immunosuppression, recent conversion **Active TB:** - symptoms + microbiology (culture, PCR) or strong clinical/radiological evidence - notifiable — contact tracing - chest X-ray — upper lobe cavitation classic ## Diagnosis - chest X-ray - sputum — auramine stain, culture, GeneXpert MTB/RIF — rapid resistance detection - IGRA blood test (interferon-gamma release assay) — latent screening - HIV test — all TB patients ## Treatment **Standard active pulmonary TB ( drug-sensitive):** - 6 months combined antibiotics - initial 2 months: RIPE — rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol - continuation 4 months: rifampicin + isoniazid **Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)** — nurse watches doses — ensures completion. **Side effects:** - liver toxicity — monitor [LFTs](https://healthanswers.co.uk/tests/liver-function-test/) - orange body fluids — rifampicin - neuropathy — isoniazid — pyridoxine co-prescribed **MDR-TB** — resistant to rifampicin/isoniazid — **specialist centre**, longer regimens. **Never stop early** — breeds resistance. ## Prevention - BCG — selected infants/high-risk - screening new entrants from high-prevalence countries - treat latent TB in immunosuppressed before biologics - ventilation in high-risk settings ## When urgent - massive haemoptysis - respiratory failure - TB [meningitis](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/meningitis/) suspicion — 999 - MDR-TB — isolation, specialist TB is **slow, treatable, and stigmatised** — **3-week cough with weight loss** in at-risk groups deserves **chest X-ray and sputum**, not repeated antibiotics alone. ## ! When to see a GP about tuberculosis See a GP if cough lasts more than 3 weeks with weight loss, night sweats, or coughing blood — especially if from high-prevalence country or contact with TB. Urgent assessment for coughing blood heavily, severe breathlessness, or TB with HIV. Latent TB screening offered to eligible new entrants and healthcare workers — accept testing if offered. ## Common questions about tuberculosis What are the symptoms of tuberculosis? Persistent cough over 3 weeks — sometimes blood-streaked sputum, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, chest pain. Extrapulmonary TB affects lymph nodes, spine, brain, kidneys — symptoms vary by site. Many latent cases have no symptoms. How do you catch tuberculosis? Inhaled droplets from cough or sneeze of person with active pulmonary TB — usually requires prolonged close contact in enclosed spaces — household, prison, some workplaces. Not spread by brief casual contact, plates, or toilet seats. Latent TB is not contagious. What is the difference between latent and active TB? Latent — bacteria dormant, no symptoms, not infectious, positive skin or blood test. Active — bacteria multiplying, symptoms, infectious — needs treatment and public health contact tracing. Latent can reactivate to active — especially if immunosuppressed. How is tuberculosis treated? Active pulmonary TB — typically 6 months antibiotics — isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide combination initially, then continuation phase. Directly observed therapy ensures adherence. Latent TB — shorter regimens (e.g. 3 months isoniazid/rifapentine) for those at high reactivation risk. Is there a vaccine for TB? BCG vaccine given at birth in areas with high TB rates or to at-risk babies — partial protection against severe childhood TB — not fully protective against adult pulmonary TB. Not part of routine UK schedule in low-incidence areas. Can TB come back after treatment? Relapse uncommon if full course completed correctly. Reinfection possible in high-exposure settings. Drug-resistant TB harder to treat — emphasises completing standard treatment first time. ## Sources - [NHS — Tuberculosis](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis-tb/) - [NICE — Tuberculosis](https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng33) - [TB Alert](https://www.thetruthabouttb.org/) ## How we reviewed this page Medically reviewed by the [HealthAnswers UK doctor review panel](https://healthanswers.co.uk/our-doctors/) First published 14 June 2026 Medically reviewed 3 July 2026 Next review due 3 July 2029 or sooner if NHS or NICE guidance changes Written by HealthAnswers editorial team. Published by HealthAnswers (Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd). 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