Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma) Quiz
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Have a fever
I feel urine remained after urination
A pimple
There is a lump
Blood in phlegm
Lymph swollen
A lot of night sweats
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)?
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection, most commonly in the lungs. Other sites of infection include the lymph nodes, intestines, and skin.
Typical Symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)
- Producing phlegm that contains blood
- Wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing
- Taking steroids
- History of HIV or AIDS
- Fever
- Black, shiny stool
- Stomach or abdominal pain with the abdomen becoming hard when gently pressed
- Skin lumps
Diagnostic Questions for Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Are you producing phlegm that contains blood?
- Do you experience wheezing or whistling sounds when breathing?
- Are you currently taking steroids?
- Have you ever been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS?
- Do you have a fever?
Treatment of Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)
Tuberculosis is treated with antibiotics. The number of drugs and length of treatment depend on the severity of the infection. It is important to finish the course of treatment because tuberculosis can reappear later in life if not properly treated.
Reviewed By:
Phillip Aguila, MD, MBA (Pulmonology, Critical Care)
Dr. Aguila graduated from West Virginia University School of Medicine. He has trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Internal Medicine at Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahnemann University at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He has served as Assistant Professor since 2010.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 13, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)?
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With a free 3-min Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma) quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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✔︎ What causes your symptoms
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Whistling when I breathe
- Respiratory wheeze
- Loud breathing
- Stridor
- My body is hot
- Recurrent fevers
- Periodic fever (>100.4°F / 38°C)
- Fever then no fever then fever again
- Remittent fever of 102.2°F / 39°C
- Extremely high fever of 106.7°F / 41.5°C or higher
- Fever of 100.4°F / 38°C or more for weeks
- Stomach was uncomfortable, then had a fever
- Stomachache and diarrhea before a fever
- Temperature of 102.2°F / 39°C goes up and down
See full list
Symptoms Related to Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)
Diseases Related to Tuberculosis (TB) (Including Scrofuloderma)
FAQs
Q.
Tuberculosis Signs Women 30-45 Often Miss & Vital Next Steps
A.
Key TB signs women ages 30 to 45 often miss include persistent fatigue, a cough lasting more than three weeks, drenching night sweats, low fevers, unexplained weight loss, swollen neck lymph nodes, and chest discomfort, and TB can also occur outside the lungs. If these persist or combine, especially with coughing up blood or trouble breathing, seek prompt care for testing like a chest X-ray, sputum analysis, and TB skin or blood tests, and start treatment early to protect you and your family; there are several factors and risk groups to consider. See below for the complete details that can shape the right next steps for your care.
References:
* Xia W, Zhang J, Li T, et al. Gender differences in clinical presentation of tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Infect Dis. 2019 Aug 1;220(3):479-487. PMID: 31338421.
* Liu H, Zhang B, Liu M, et al. Clinical characteristics and risk factors for extrapulmonary tuberculosis in women of reproductive age: a retrospective study from China. BMC Infect Dis. 2020 Jan 14;20(1):50. PMID: 31937299.
* Cheng H, Lu M, Chen J, et al. Factors associated with diagnostic delay for pulmonary tuberculosis in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2021 Jan 19;21(1):198. PMID: 33468160.
* Kaur S, Sharma N, Mittal V, et al. Clinical profile of tuberculosis in women of reproductive age: A tertiary care center experience. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Jul 31;9(7):3798-3802. PMID: 33042784.
* Singla R, Sharma P. Tuberculosis in women: A neglected gender-specific approach to diagnosis and treatment. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2020 Feb;18(2):161-170. PMID: 31804368.
Q.
Tuberculosis Symptoms in Seniors: What Women 65+ Need to Know
A.
In women 65 and older, tuberculosis often shows up quietly rather than dramatically, with a cough lasting 3 or more weeks, shortness of breath, fatigue, unintended weight loss, low fevers or night sweats, and it may also appear outside the lungs as swollen neck lymph nodes or persistent back or joint pain. There are several factors to consider, including when to seek testing, how symptoms differ in seniors, and what treatments and precautions help recovery and prevent complications; see the complete guidance below for key details that can shape your next healthcare steps.
References:
* Cheng A, Li T, Wang W, Liu Y, Zhang S, Sun H, Huang M, Li W, Wang H, Wang S. Clinical features and outcome of tuberculosis in older adults compared with young adults: a retrospective study. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2019 Jan;80:88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2018.11.002. Epub 2018 Nov 14. PMID: 30449491.
* Rajagopalan S. Tuberculosis in the elderly: A review of the literature. F1000Res. 2020 Jul 15;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-666. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.24647.1. PMID: 33946356; PMCID: PMC8060378.
* Sreeram V, Rajendran P, George N, Ponnambath G, Purayil B, Sasidharan V. Challenges in the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis in elderly patients. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2016 Jan-Mar;5(1):11-5. doi: 10.4103/2249-4863.184620. PMID: 27457004; PMCID: PMC4944372.
* Chen CY, Lu PL, Hu ML, Lin CY, Tsai YW, Lo SF. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of tuberculosis in patients aged ≥70 years: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Feb 11;19(1):151. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-3783-9. PMID: 30745269; PMCID: PMC6371515.
* Al-Jahdali HH, Al-Johani SM, Baharoon S, Al-Ghamdi A. Tuberculosis in the elderly: a forgotten disease? A review of epidemiology, clinical features and treatment. J Infect Public Health. 2014 Dec;7(6):448-54. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2014.02.007. Epub 2014 Mar 4. PMID: 24584447.
Q.
TB Symptoms in Women: Modern Risks and Testing Protocols
A.
TB in women can present with a cough lasting 3 or more weeks, fever, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, and it more often appears outside the lungs with swollen neck lymph nodes, back or abdominal pain, or menstrual and fertility changes; risk rises with close exposure, crowded settings, weakened immunity, pregnancy or postpartum, malnutrition, smoking, and travel to high incidence areas. There are several factors to consider: modern testing includes TB skin or blood tests for screening and chest imaging plus sputum and rapid molecular tests, with biopsy for suspected extrapulmonary disease, and early, pregnancy safe evaluation is recommended if you have symptoms or exposure; see below to understand more and find details that can guide your next steps.
References:
* Getahun H, O'Brien R, Saouma P. Tuberculosis in women: a review of the biological, social and diagnostic challenges. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Apr 22;11:665913. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.665913. eCollection 2021. PMID: 33946399; PMCID: PMC8100572.
* Mutevedzi T, Masinge L, Dlodlo RA, et al. Clinical presentation of tuberculosis by gender in a high-burden setting: a prospective cohort study. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 24;14(1):e0211116. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211116. PMID: 30678683; PMCID: PMC6345422.
* Hussain A, Koul PA, Koul P, et al. Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Women. Cureus. 2023 Apr 20;15(4):e37837. doi: 10.7759/cureus.37837. PMID: 37169002; PMCID: PMC10161421.
* Khan AM, Alotaibi SS, Alqutub AO, et al. Screening for active tuberculosis among women in vulnerable populations: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2022 Sep 8;17(9):e0274158. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274158. PMID: 36070621; PMCID: PMC9454176.
* Lonnroth K, Jaramillo E, Dye C, et al. Global burden of tuberculosis in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2018 Feb 1;22(2):128-142. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.17.0298. PMID: 29329712.
Q.
Tuberculosis in Seniors: Protecting Your Immune System
A.
Older adults and caregivers: TB risk rises as immunity weakens, so watch for persistent cough, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats, or exposure, and seek prompt evaluation since TB is treatable with antibiotics. There are several factors to consider for protecting your immune system, including good nutrition, control of chronic illnesses, routine checkups with possible latent TB screening, and avoiding smoking and heavy alcohol; see the complete answer below for key red flags and step-by-step actions that could shape your next steps.
References:
* Lim, C. H., Han, Y., Choi, C., & Kim, Y. S. (2019). Immunosenescence and Tuberculosis in the Elderly: A Review. *Frontiers in Immunology*, *10*, 30.
* Lee, S. H., Park, J. H., & Kim, H. S. (2022). Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Older Adults: A Narrative Review of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. *Journal of Clinical Medicine*, *11*(20), 6140.
* Mandal, M., Kumar, D., Kumar, P., & Verma, S. (2020). Vaccine development for tuberculosis in the elderly: challenges and opportunities. *Aging Research Reviews*, *64*, 101147.
* Awolola, O., Ajao, A. O., Abiola, O. O., & Adefolaju, D. K. (2021). Impact of aging on the host immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. *Aging Cell*, *20*(8), e13426.
* Jung, S., Han, Y., & Choi, C. (2022). Reactivation of Latent Tuberculosis in the Elderly: Risk Factors and Clinical Implications. *International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health*, *19*(16), 10006.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Gupta, S. D., & Roy, R. D. (2021). Scrofuloderma: a rare case report of sequelae of intestinal tuberculosis. International Journal of Dermatology and …
https://journals.lww.com/ijdv/fulltext/2021/09000/scrofuloderma__a_rare_case_report_of_sequelae_of.8.aspxOberhelman, S., Watchmaker, J., & Phillips, T. (2019). Scrofuloderma. JAMA dermatology.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/article-abstract/2729593Soeroso, N. N., Harina, E. G., & Yosi, A. (2019). A very rare case of scrofuloderma with multiple cervical lymphadenitis tuberculosis. Respiratory Medicine Case Reports.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213007119300590