how is tuberculosis diagnosed?
Because TB presents in many ways, medical evaluation where pulmonary TB is suspected includes a medical history, a physical examination, a chest X-ray and microbiological examination of sputum. It may also include a tuberculin skin test, other scans and X-rays, and surgical biopsy. The medical history usually reveals a productive cough over at least three weeks, possibly with chest pain, and hemoptysis, that is not responsive to conventional antibiotic therapy. Systemic symptoms can include fever, chills, night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss, and easy fatigability. Prior TB exposure, infection or disease; past TB treatment; demographic risk factors for TB; and medical conditions that increase risk for TB disease, such as HIV infection, will assist in formaing a provisional diagnosis. Sputum is tested for acid-fast bacilli if the patient is producing sputum; this provides a strong indication of the presence of TN; a definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis is made by culturing Mycobacte
