What are the symptoms and manifestations of moderate-stage pulmonary tuberculosis?

Pulmonary tuberculosis in the moderate stage is mainly characterized by worsening cough and sputum production, hemoptysis or blood-tinged sputum, chest pain and tightness, low-grade fever with night sweats and fatigue, and difficulty breathing. If the above symptoms occur, prompt medical evaluation at a正规 hospital is necessary.

1. Worsening cough and sputum: Increased frequency and prolonged duration of coughing, with greater amounts of sputum that may be white and mucoid or purulent. Some patients may have blood streaks in their sputum, and symptoms are often more pronounced upon waking or at night.

2. Hemoptysis or blood-tinged sputum: Lesions in the lungs erode blood vessels, causing bleeding. In mild cases, only blood streaks or small clots appear in the sputum; in severe cases, small to moderate hemoptysis may occur, requiring vigilance for the risk of massive hemoptysis.

3. Chest pain and tightness: When lesions involve the pleura or lung tissue is damaged, it can cause dull, stabbing, or aching chest pain that worsens with coughing or deep breathing. Patients may also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath.

4. Low-grade fever, night sweats, and fatigue: Low-grade fever typically occurs in the afternoon or at night, with body temperature ranging between 37.3°C and 38°C. Profuse sweating during sleep that stops upon waking is common, accompanied by general weakness, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

5. Difficulty breathing: As lung lesions expand and lung function becomes impaired, shortness of breath and wheezing may develop after physical activity. In severe cases, dyspnea may even occur at rest.

Treatment primarily involves standardized anti-tuberculosis drug therapy, following the principles of early, combined, appropriate, regular, and complete treatment. Nursing care should include maintaining indoor ventilation, ensuring adequate sleep, proper nutrition to strengthen the body, avoiding overexertion and cold exposure, and minimizing respiratory irritants.