Which symptom cluster best describes active TB disease?

• A. Cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss.
• B. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• C. Rash, itching, urticaria.
• D. Headache, dizziness, confusion.

Answer: (A)

Active tuberculosis most often shows up as a persistent productive cough accompanied by systemic symptoms from the ongoing infection. The combination of a chronic cough with fever, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss is classic for active TB. The cough reflects lung involvement, while fever, night sweats, and weight loss illustrate the body's systemic inflammatory response to the bacteria. This cluster helps distinguish active TB from latent infection (where there are no symptoms). The other symptom sets point to different conditions—gastrointestinal illness, skin allergic reactions, or neurological/central issues—rather than the typical pulmonary TB presentation.