What is a primary symptom of primary tuberculosis infection?

Fever is a primary symptom of primary tuberculosis infection and commonly occurs as the body's immune response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. In the initial stages, individuals may experience a low-grade fever as part of a systemic inflammatory response. This can be accompanied by other nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, night sweats, and weight loss.

While severe cough, hemoptysis, and chest pain are associated with tuberculosis, they are typically more indicative of active pulmonary disease or reactivation tuberculosis rather than the primary infection. During the primary phase, the immune system is often still managing the initial infection, and respiratory symptoms may not present until the disease progresses. Therefore, fever is indeed one of the hallmark indicators of primary tuberculosis infection.