Diagnostic criteria for tuberculosis

Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) involves identifying signs and confirming the infection with certain tests. Doctors look for symptoms like a persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood, weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. They may order a sputum test to find TB bacteria or perform a skin test (Mantoux test) or blood test to check for immune response. Imaging, like a chest X-ray, can reveal lung damage typical of TB. A combination of symptoms and positive test results helps confirm a TB diagnosis, guiding appropriate treatment.