Table 2: Tuberculosis (TB) clinical manifestations,

signs and symptoms in children and adults.6,8,11-16

 

Reports

Clinical Practice

Guide

WHO consolidated

guidelines on

tuberculosis 2022.

Diagnosis

and treatment

Signs

Symptoms

Signs

Symptoms

Signs

Symptoms

Children

Lost of

weight*

Night

sweats

Lost of

weight*

Weakness

o fatigue

Lack of

weight gain

Delayed

growth

Night

sweats

Fever of

> 38 oC during

at least

two weeks,

ruling out other

common causes

Non-specific

toxic signs

Fever

Lack of

appetite

Fever

—

Chronic and incessant cough that does not improve ≥ 3 three weeks

Signs of

hypersensitivity

such as

erythema

nodosum

Productive

cough

≥ 2 weeks

—

Cough of

any duration

Chest pain

Hemoptysis

—

Wheezing

Neonatal and infants: common

Preschoolers and schoolchildren: uncommon

—

—

—

Dyspnea

—

Adults

Productive cough ≥ 2 weeks

Shivers

Productive

cough

≥ 2 weeks

Night

sweats

Cough of

any duration

Night

sweats

Hemoptysis

Lack of

appetite

Hemoptysis

Lack of

appetite

Hemoptysis

Chest pain

Dyspnea

—

Fever**

Fatigue

Fever

Fatigue

General

malaise

Fever

—

Lost of weight

—

Lost of

weight

—

Lost of

weight

—

* According to the child’s growth curve and percentile chart.

** Greater than 38.3 oC. Data from other Clinical Practice Guide reports.

World Health Organization (WHO) Consolidated Guidelines on Tuberculosis. Module 3:

Diagnosis and treatment. Rapid diagnostic means for the detection of tuberculosis.