Are pulmonary tuberculosis and “feilao” (a traditional Chinese medicine term for consumptive disease) the same condition?
Disease description:
My grandfather has been coughing frequently lately and sometimes coughs up phlegm. After a hospital examination, the doctor diagnosed him with pulmonary tuberculosis. Is pulmonary tuberculosis the same as “lung consumption” (a traditional Chinese term for tuberculosis)?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Pulmonary tuberculosis and “fei lao” (a traditional Chinese term for pulmonary tuberculosis) likely refer to the same disease—just two different terms. Pulmonary tuberculosis is a respiratory infectious disease caused by infection with *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*. Symptoms may include cough, night sweats, sputum production, blood-tinged sputum, chest pain, and generalized fatigue. Once diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, patients should actively cooperate with their physicians for treatment. Delayed or inadequate treatment may lead to complications, such as lung cancer.
