Health Blog #2 (Baka may TB ka...)

Health Blog #2 (Baka may TB ka...)

Pulmonary Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. It is caused by the bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, although other Mycobacteriums can cause tuberculosis too but not as much as M. tuberculosis. The bacteria is so light that it can float around the air, thus, the mode of transmission is airborne through droplet nuclei. This means that a person with Pulmonary Tuberculosis can spread the bacteria through sneezing, coughing, speaking, or even talking. It only takes 1 to 2 bacteria to enter in our respiratory system for us to be able to acquire the disease. If a person's resistance is intact, he remains asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) and PTB will not develop.

Tuberculosis can also affect other systems in our body. To know more about the different types of Tuberculosis, click here.

FACT: More than 90% of Filipinos have been exposed to M. tuberculosis and are carrying the bacteria in their system but do not manifest the disease. Once the resistance weakens, the bacteria will take the opportunity and Tuberculosis will develop.

What are the signs and symptoms?
A patient with TB will manifest one or more, or even all, of the following signs and symptoms:

1. Low grade fever - the bacteria is weak, thus, the patient will only experience a low grade fever (37.6-38.5 degree Celsius) especially in the afternoon.
2. Chills - accompanied by fever.
3. Diaphoresis - cold sweats especially during the night.
4. Anorexia - loss of appetite.
5. Weight loss - brought about by loss of appetite.
6. Pallor - pale.
7. Easy fatigability - easily gets tired.

How do I know if I was exposed to the bacteria?
Ideally, Mantoux test is done to determine if a person had been exposed to the bacteria. This test basically becomes useless if done here in the Philippines because of the fact that almost all Filipinos are exposed to the bacteria.

Instead, sputum test is done together with a chest x-ray. A person must have three negative sputum results to be cleared of PTB, but it only takes one positive to diagnose him with the disease. I remember an American doctor on a medical mission here in the Philippines seeing a patient with PTB for the first time in his life. He even asked the patient if he could take a picture with him and his x-ray film.

Tuberculosis creates cavities visible in x-rays like this one in the patient's right upper lobe.

How to treat?
Once the patient is diagnosed with Tuberculosis, he will then be treated with a combination of strong antibiotics which usually lasts for 6 months or more. After the first two weeks of treatment, the patient becomes uncontageous (will not infect other people) anymore although treatment will still continue. Antibiotic therapy is very important and crucial because the patient must not miss a single dose, otherwise the bacteria will develop a resistance against the drug.

Fortunately, the Department of Health (DOH) developed a program in accordance to World Health Organization (WHO) to eradicate TB in the Philippines. This is called the TB-DOTS program. I heard they are giving the antibiotics for free. For more info about TB-DOTS, click here.

I hope this health blog helped you gain awareness of the disease discussed above. If you have any questions, feel free to reply to this thread. Other members with knowledge about the disease can answer too.
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Gift from excon