2005
World TB Day Commemoration
TB Network: Sama-samang Sugpuin ang TB
TB vs. NTP-D.O.T.S
What is TB?
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by TB bacteria ( tuberculosis) that primarily affects the lungs. This condition is known as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). You may also have tuberculosis in the bones, meninges, joints, genito-urinary tract, liver, kidneys, intestines and heart and this is called extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.What are some of the relevant TB statistics?
The Philippines is among the 22 high-burdened countries in the world according to W.H.O. TB is the 6th leading cause of illness and the 6th leading cause of deaths among the Filipinos. Most TB patients belong to the economically productive age- group (15-54 years-old) according to the 2nd National Prevalence Survey in 1997.
How does one get TB?
One gets infected with TB if he inhales the germs released from air droplets when a pulmonary TB patient coughs, sneezes and spits. A PTB patient whose sputum is positive for the TB germs/bacteria, if left untreated, may infect approximately 10-20 persons in two years.
How is TB diagnosed?
Pulmonary TB is suspected if a person has symptoms of cough for more than 2 weeks, fever, chest and back pains, poor appetite, loss of weight and hemoptysis. He should seek medical consultation and his sputum should be examined to detect the presence of TB germs/bacteria.
How is TB treated?
Tuberculosis is a curable disease. Patients are prescribed with appropriate
regimen to render them non-infectious and cured, as early as possible. The treatment for TB is a combination of 3-4 anti-TB drugs. NEVER should we prescribe a SINGLE DRUG for TB treatment! This will worsen the patient’s condition.What is D.O.T.S. ?
D.O.T.S. stands for Directly-Observed Treatment Short-course. It is a comprehensive strategy endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) to detect and cure TB patients.
There are five elements of DOTS that need to be fulfilled. These are:
- political commitment
- quality sputum microscopy for diagnosis
- regular supply of anti-TB drugs
- standardized recording and reporting of TB data
- supervised treatment by a treatment partner
According to the WHO Report on the TB Epidemic, 1997:
A DOTS cure TB patients and it can produce cure rates as high as 95% even in the poorest countries.
A DOTS prevent new infections among children and adults.
A DOTS can stop resistance to anti-TB drugs.
A DOTS is cost-effective.
How can we avail of D.O.T.S. Services?
DOTS services are available in the rural health units, city health centers and govern ment hospitals around the country. Currently, there are also private facilities that are offering DOTS services to their clients.
Is TB curable?
YES! TB can be cured through D.O.T.S.What is the National TB Program of the Government?
The National TB Program (NTP) is the Government’s commitment to address the TB problem in the country. The NTP is being implemented nationwide in all government health centers and government hospitals. Its objectives are to detect active TB cases (at least 70%) and cure them (at least 85%). Achieving and sustaining targets will eventually result to the decline of the TB problem in the Philippines.