Final answer:
Symptoms of TB include a persistent cough, weight loss, and night sweats; chest X-ray findings for TB can reveal Ghon complexes or lung consolidation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Symptoms and Chest X-Ray Findings of Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Common symptoms suggestive of TB include a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks, often with mucus or coughing up blood, chest pain, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. In terms of a chest X-ray, one would expect to find telltale signs such as the presence of Ghon complexes, which are indicative of healed lesions, or extensive consolidation. These features represent the formation of tubercles and the rupture of these tubercles in the lungs.
Chest radiographs are an essential tool for confirming TB exposure, especially when other tests, like the Mantoux tuberculin skin test, can have limitations due to false-positive results caused by prior vaccinations such as the BCG vaccine. The chest X-ray can also show other abnormalities such as pleural effusion or further progression of the disease to miliary tuberculosis. It's important to note that even after lesions heal and form calcified Ghon complexes, viable bacteria might remain, posing a risk for reactivation TB, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
Symptoms indicative of TB include persistent cough, weight loss, and night sweats, while chest X-rays can reveal Ghon complexes or lung consolidation as signs of the disease. Chest radiographs are critical in confirming TB exposure, especially when other tests could be compromised by prior vaccinations or other factors.