Is dry cough a symptom of tb?

Ever heard of Tuberculosis? I know, it sounds like something the dinosaurs caught during extinction. But nope, it’s still alive and kicking (and coughing). In this article we will explore if dry cough really is a symptom of tuberculosis.

What is TB?

Before we dive right in, let’s talk about what tuberculosis actually is. TB is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis which commonly affects the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body. It can be fatal if left untreated – so yeah, kind of important to take seriously.

Symptoms

So how do you know if you have Tuberculosis? Here are some common symptoms:
– A persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks
– Chest pain or discomfort
– Fatigue/Tiredness
– Fever/Chills
– Night sweats
Now if any of these sound familiar…stop reading this silly article and go consult your doctor immediately!

Wait…What About Dry Cough?

Ah yes, our titular question. So does lung-choking-dry-cough come with the package when you catch Tuberculosis? The answer might surprise you…
No! It’s not necessarily one particular type/kind/causing-factor-of-cough that’s significant here guys (isn’t life stranger than fiction?). Any sorta bad chronic dry cough could indicate many serious respiratory diseases including cancer -so make an appointment with those unscrupulous doctors asap!

Phew.. No Need To Worry!? Or…

Hold up…just because having consistently non-stop wheezing-caught-in-throat might not spell out pulmonary infection X,Y,Z; doesn’t mean every instance should be passed off quickly.
If ever in doubt over peculiar-unusual-weird-bizarre-monstrous lung issues; its wise to get a specialist (or three) to check it out. Trust me this advice rings true.

But How Can You be Sure If It’s TB or Just Normal-cough?

Excellent question, dear Reader! To accurately diagnose TB, there are a few different tests your doctor may conduct including:
– Chest X-ray
– Sputum test
Don’t worry-they’re not as scary and invasive sounding as they may appear. So if you have any of those symptoms for like longer than usual; go visit some medical professionals!

But Enough with the Medical Jabbering…Onwards to More Lighthearted Topics

A Little Bit Of History on Tuberculosis

Over history tuberculosis has been known by many names including “consumption” due to its habit of slowly consuming the body. At one point in time it was thought that a sea voyage might cure this disease, leading people to flock aboard ships in hopes of getting better – how’s that for “sea-faring” mentality? #GetIt

In modern times we have debunked such myths but that doesn’t mean Tuberculosis isn’t still prevalent around the world today – especially among certain socio-economic groups.

Treatment

Now I am sure most readers’ fear tactics will lead them astray from receiving treatment…but let me put your mind at ease.
Treatment typically involves taking several antibiotics over a period of 6 -12 months depending on what stage/type/severity you may be going through (so don’t procrastinate folks, pneumonia is never fun). Most people can resume normal day-to-day activities when undergoing treatment- so no need to sell all those Instagram fitness equipments just yet!

BUT….

There is always exception! In rare cases patients with severe forms of tuberculosis may require hospitalization/procedures/medications which demands caution in handling/maintaining/care management through tedious protocols, scheduling and monitoring routines.
So again folks just get tested early and most-likely everything should be okay.

To Conclude…

So, let’s recap – Dry coughing can indicate many respiratory diseases including Tuberculosis but it’s not the only symptom to look out for. Nonetheless, if you have a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks we urge you to go see a doctor – even if you’re sure it’s just something minor. If diagnosed with TB, rest assured treatment is available! It does require proper care and management but most importantly time . Nobody enjoys paying an “arm-and-a-leg” for hospitalization so take care of your lungs!

Stay healthy folks.#YippieKayAy

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