TB symptoms
The most common symptoms of TB are:
- a cough for three weeks or longer
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- high temperature or fever
- drenching night sweats
- extreme tiredness or lack of energy.
Symptoms of TB will depend on which part of the body is affected. For example, a cough is a common symptom of TB in the lungs. Someone with TB in the lymph nodes may have a swollen neck. Aches and pains in the joints could be TB in the bones. TB meningitis often gives a person severe headache.
Don’t ignore TB symptoms
If you have a cough that won’t go away or other TB symptoms, go and see your Doctor and ask to be tested for TB. Early diagnosis means there is less chance of long-term damage to your body, makes it easier to treat and reduces the risk of other people catching TB from you.
TB testing and treatment is free to everyone regardless of their immigration status. If you are told you have TB, it will make no difference to your visa or your asylum application.
Watch the symptoms in the animation video below.
We have developed a short animation which describes the symptoms of TB in an easy to understand and friendly way. It is available here in eight languages: Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi, English, Tigrinya, Romanian, Arabic and Gujarati.