Minda stopped working temporarily as a clerk sa city hall after she was diagnosed with tuberculosis or TB. Hindi niya alam kung saan niya posibleng nakuha ito, gayung wala namang may TB sa family or office niya. “Sa dami na rin siguro ng nakakasalamuha kong tao araw-araw, baka dun ako nadale,” sabi ni Minda.
Despite the government’s aggressive campaign against TB, it’s not surprising na may mga nagkaka-TB pa rin. According to the Department of Health (DOH), TB ranked 8th among the top 10 leading causes of death in Filipinos in 2010. May morbidity rate ito na 77.1 %.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacteria that causes TB. It attacks the lungs as well as other organs close to it.
Pwedeng makuha ang bacteria sa hangin, lalo na pag may infected person na umubo, suminga o dumura.
Posibleng ma-infect ng bacteria ang isang tao at mag-positive sa tuberculin skin test, pero hindi naman siya nagkaroon ng sakit o makakahawa. Ibig sabihin kasi nito na inactive ang bacteria na nasa katawan niya.
Pero ang may active germ sa katawan, makikitaan ng symptoms at magiging nakakahawa.
Among the symptoms of TB disease are:
- persistent cough that lasts up to 3 weeks or more
- chest pain
- blood in phlegm
- weakness
- weight loss
- loss of appetite
- fever and chills
TB can be diagnosed through tuberculin skin test, chest x-ray, sputum bacterial analysis or some molecular techniques.
Ang magandang balita, nagagamot ang TB. Pero marami pa ring Pilipinong lumalala ang sakit o namamatay. Usually kasi, hindi natatapos ang anim na buwang gamutan o course because of various reasons.
For example, may mga pasyenteng hinihinto ang gamot kapag nakaramdam na ng ginhawa kahit hindi pa tapos ang 6 months.
May iba namang tinutuloy ang bisyo gaya ng paninigarilyo, kaya lumalala lalo ang sakit.
Doctors warn the public that the bacteria can become drug-resistant because of these practices. Ibig sabihin, baka hindi na gumana yung antibiotic sa susunod na gamutan.
The country observes National Tuberculosis Awareness Day every August 19 to raise awareness about why the disease cannot seem to be eliminated.
In line with the Philippine Plan Against Tuberculosis, PhilHealth revised its outpatient Anti-Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) benefits package to make diagnosis and treatment more accessible.
Among the services covered by the revised TB DOTS package are:
- diagnostic exams
- konsultasyon
- gamot
- health education at counselling
Para ito sa mga bata o matanda na hindi pa nagkasakit o hindi pa gumamit ng anti-TB drugs sa loob ng isang buwan o mga nagpapagamot ulit matapos magka-relapse.
PhilHealth clarified, however, na hindi kasama rito ang confinement o admission sa ospital o mga miyembrong may drug resistant TB.
Fixed ang case rate ng package na ito, which is P4,000 given in two tranches: P2,500 for intensive phase and P1,500 naman para sa maintenance phase ng treatment.
Pwedeng ma-avail ang PhilHealth package sa mga accredited TB-DOTS centers sa buong bansa.
Pero paalala ng PhilHealth, dapat nakahulog ng contribution ang miyembro for 3 months sa loob ng anim na buwan bago sumailalim sa treatment.
Para sa dagdag na impormasyon tungkol sa TB DOTS package, pwedeng kontakin ang Philhealth sa:
Trunkline: (632) 4417444
Call Center: (632) 4417442
Email: actioncenter@philhealth.gov.ph
