What are the characteristic symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis?

The symptoms of tuberculosis are mainly characterized by the following aspects: 1. Respiratory symptoms: Patients with tuberculosis often experience coughing and sputum production, with the cough typically being persistent and lasting for weeks or even months. Initially, the sputum is usually white and mucoid; as the disease progresses, the volume of sputum may increase and become purulent. Some patients may also experience hemoptysis (coughing up blood), which can vary in severity and, in severe cases, may involve massive hemoptysis. 2. Systemic symptoms: Patients with tuberculosis frequently develop prolonged, low-grade fever in the afternoon, with body temperature generally around 38°C, although it may return to normal in the early morning. Additionally, patients may exhibit symptoms of tuberculosis-related toxicity, such as night sweats, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Women of childbearing age may also experience menstrual irregularities or amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). 3. Other symptoms: Patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis, especially those with concomitant bacterial infections or initial presentation of tuberculous pleurisy, may develop chills and high fever. A minority of patients may experience hypersensitivity reaction syndromes such as erythema nodosum (painful red nodules on the skin), joint pain, or vesicular keratoconjunctivitis (inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva with blister-like lesions) before or during the course of the disease. However, these symptoms may easily be misdiagnosed as other diseases.