ILOILO City – There are 28,948 undiagnosed or unreported tuberculosis (TB) cases in Western Visayas, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Tracking them is important so these patients could get treatment and for TB to not spread further, it stressed.
TB is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) although it is curable and preventable. Caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), it most often affect the lungs.
The National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey conducted in 2016 yet estimated 43,149 undiagnosed or unreported TB cases in the region. DOH managed to track 14,201 cases this year, according to Dr. Edith Gimotea, DOH Region 6 coordinator for the National Tuberculosis Program.
TB is the seventh leading cause of death in Western Visayas, said Gimotea.
To track the nearly 30,000 unreported TB cases, DOH-6 has enlisted the help of barangay health workers.
Gimotea said public and private hospitals and private doctors were also being tapped.
Most of those afflicted with TB were in the age group 14 years old and above, said added, citing the National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey.
“They must report their TB cases. Some physicians are not reporting their cases for the DOH databank,” said Gimotea.
TB is spread from person to person through the air. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB bacteria into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these bacteria to become infected.
WHO has recommended three approaches to find the missing TB cases in the Philippines. A team of officers from all three levels of the WHO (headquarters, regional office and country office) conducted a “screening-diagnosis” review mission along with key partner agencies last October 2017.
The mission recommended the following approaches:
(1) “screen all” at all public health facilities and congregate settings, irrespective of their symptoms
(2) “screen high risk groups” in communities
(3) “link all” who already have chest x-rays in private and corporate sectors to TB diagnostic test, as required
Gimotea said some unreported TB cases may be in unreachable or geographically isolated areas.
“We need also nga makakadto sa mga slums kay dira sina ang madamo cases,” she added.
Common symptoms of active lung TB are cough with sputum and blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats.
Starting this month, barangay health workers would be visiting the elderly to collect specimen for TB testing using the GeneXpert, the latest tool in diagnosing the disease.
Gimotea said DOH-6 allotted P4 million for the x-ray of presumptive TB cases while the DOH central office downloaded P5 million for the x-ray of indigenous peoples (IPs).
Those with presumptive TB will be given a referral slip to avail themselves of x-ray at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao district.
Next month, the DOH mobile x-ray will also be going around to conduct tests, said Gimotea.
The National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey identified those prone to the TB – those in the productive age group; smokers due to weakened immune system; and those exposed to TB cases in their workplaces or even their homes.
“TB is an airborne infection. That’s why every time we cough let us make it habit to cover our mouth to minimize the spread of infection,” said Gimotea.
Also considered as vulnerable groups are the elderly who already have weak resistance, public utility drivers and IPs./PN
