Tuberculosis - Pulmonary Signs and Symptoms

Last updated: 01 September 2025
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Introduction

  • Tuberculosis (TB) suspect is any one who has signs or symptoms suggestive of TB (eg ≥2 weeks productive cough and/or abnormal chest X-ray)
  • Definite TB is considered in patients with culture, molecular tests positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or in patients with at least one sputum smear positive for acid-fast bacilli (AFB)
  • TB cases are also classified based on the disease anatomical site, bacteriological results (including drug resistance), previous treatment history, and patient’s human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status

Definition

  • Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is a case of TB that involves the lung parenchyma
    • Miliary TB is considered as PTB since lung lesions are also seen
    • TB in the pleura, mediastinal and/or hilar lymph nodes with no evidence of abnormalities in the chest X-ray are considered extrapulmonary TB (EPTB)
    • Patients presenting with both PTB and extrapulmonary TB are classified as a case of PTB