The Health Services Office-Baguio Health Department (HSO-BHD) celebrates National Tuberculosis (TB) Awareness month, August, by subjecting confirmed TB patients to free mixed Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) Course Chemotherapy program.

Launched a few years back with concerted efforts from private medical practitioners, the Department of Health, HSO-BHD, Fourmula for Health, Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis, Public-Private Mix Dots, and the Global Fund, the mixed DOTS Course Chemotherapy program is a six-month intensive TB treatment program by prescribing a combination of three to four anti-TB drugs for the patient’s use.

The medicines are combined for potency and for the assurance that the TB-causing bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis would not develop drug resistance. Patients taking in the combination drugs would also be non-infections after two weeks, and cured as soon as possible. However, for assurance that the TB bacteria is destroyed, strict adherence to the treatment program for six months is made possible with the provision of a partner.

The treatment partner is responsible for checking on his partner’s daily medication schedule and that the combination medicines were properly consumed.

Incomplete treatment would allow development of drug resistance, thus a more severe form of TB may evolve, making it more difficult and more expensive to treat.

Single-drug treatment would never cure the patient, or would worsen his condition, it was reported.
Healthy practices are also advised for patients during and after the treatment phase.

Signs and symptoms of pulmonary TB, or that of the lungs are:

• Productive cough for two or more weeks;
• Chest and back pains;
• Blood-streaked sputum or phlegm;
• Easy fatigability;
• loss of weight; fever;
• and night sweats.

Extra-pulmonary TB are those in the bones, meninges, joints, genito-urinary tract, liver, kidney, intestines and heart. The symptoms are similar to pulmonary TB though organs affected would manifest symptoms such as: swelling and pus drainage for lymph nodes; pain and swelling for bones and joints; headache, fever, stiffness of the neck, drowsiness for the brain; frequent defecation, abdominal pain and enlargement for the intestines; yellowish color of the skin and eyes for the liver.

Suspected TB patients are urged to have a check-up at the HSO-BHD at the earliest possible time, as it is emphasized that everyone is vulnerable to the disease, but very curable in view of health practices and modern medicine.

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