Get to know the difference between coughing caused by Covid-19 and TB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

tuberculosis (TBC) and infection with the corona virus that causes Covid-19 causing almost the same symptoms. So, how to differentiate cough because of tuberculosis and Covid-19?

TB and Covid-19 are both infectious diseases. The difference is, TB is caused by a bacterial infection, while Covid-19 is triggered by a viral infection.

Both diseases attack the lungs. However, some cases of tuberculosis also attack other organs such as the intestines and spine.

Cough is one of the typical symptoms of TB. Coughing is also one that may occur in Covid-19. However, not all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus cause coughing.

How to tell the difference between a Covid-19 and TB cough

Because they both cause coughing, as a result, many people think of coughing as a symptom of Covid-19. In fact, the assumption is not necessarily true.

For that, you need to understand the character of the stones caused by these two diseases. Pulmonary specialist Erlina Burhan explained the difference between coughing caused by Covid-19 and TB as follows.

Cough Covid-19

Here are some characteristics of coughs due to Covid-19:
– dry cough;
– occurs in a matter of days;
– sometimes accompanied by high fever.

TB cough

Here are some characteristics of cough due to tuberculosis:
– cough with phlegm;
– lasts a long time, more than 2 weeks;
– accompanied by a fever that is not too high and can go away on its own;
– night sweats;
– decreased appetite;
– lost weight.

Cough itself is the body’s mechanism to expel foreign objects that enter the respiratory tract. These foreign bodies can be in the form of dust, dirt, food, or tissue secretions.

Not only that, you can also cough due to choking on food. In this condition, the body reflex to expel food that enters the respiratory tract through coughing.

“Normal person [sehat] it doesn’t cough. If you cough there must be something. Cough [akibat] I have a sore throat, I have a cough reflex,” Erlina said at a press conference with the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day, Wednesday (23/3).

See how to prevent tuberculosis on the next page..