CABANATUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) is urging the public to undergo symptom screenings and chest X-rays to help detect tuberculosis (TB).
This call aims to address the significant number of undiagnosed and unreported TB cases in the region, estimated at approximately 12,000, with 2,300 of these being drug-resistant.
DOH CLCHD Infectious Diseases Cluster nurse Geliza Recede emphasized the importance of early detection, noting that one person with TB can infect 10 to 15 others through close contact within a year.
“If we fail to identify and treat a person with TB, they can potentially infect 10 to 15 others in a year, and then next year, another 10 to 15,” she warned.
Recede also highlighted that while the region’s TB case detection rates have rebounded and surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2023, addressing the remaining missing cases is crucial to prevent further spread.
DOH has identified three types of missing TB cases: those who do not consult healthcare providers, those who consult but are not properly diagnosed, and those diagnosed but not reported to DOH.
To combat TB, DOH encourages individuals to seek early consultation and screening if they exhibit symptoms including a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, unexplained weight loss, excessive sweating at night, or prolonged fever.
Recede specifically urged those in high-risk groups to get screened.
These include close contacts of TB patients, individuals with a history of previous TB treatment, people living with HIV, the elderly aged 60 years old and above, diabetics, smokers, healthcare workers, the urban and rural poor or indigents, and those with other immune-suppressive medical conditions.
“If there are no symptoms, we encourage people to get a chest X-ray at least once a year,” she advised.
Individuals may consult at the nearest health facilities in their respective areas that provide free TB services and medications, including barangay TB centers and rural health units (RHUs).
“All government RHUs or city health centers offer check-ups for TB. If you prefer hospitals, selected hospitals [in Central Luzon] also provide free services and medications for TB,” Recede furthered.
For more information, the public may contact the CallKaLungs hotline at 0945-268-0584, 0919-330-2200, or 0919-330-2205.
August 19 is observed annually as National TB Day pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 840, series of 1996
This year’s observance is centered around the theme “Pilipinas! Para healthy lungs, Pa-check ka lungs!” (CLJD/MAECR, PIA Region 3-Nueva Ecija)