Actively prevent and control tuberculosis in the community

Updated date: 08/02/2023 10:10:57

DTO - According to statistics from the National Tuberculosis Control Program, Dong Thap is a province with a high tuberculosis epidemic, ranking 2nd out of 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region. From 2017 to 2022, on average, each year, the whole province has about 2,600 patients with all types of tuberculosis. To prevent and control tuberculosis in the community, the province has implemented the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program in the province. In particular, strengthening communication and proactive screening for tuberculosis, contributing to preventing and limiting tuberculosis in the community.

Tuberculosis patients treated at Dong Thap Lung Hospital

In recent years, implementing the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program, Dong Thap Lung Hospital has coordinated with related units, District and City Health Centers, Commune, Ward and Town Health Stations to carry out communication work through the district, city, commune, ward and town radio system to disseminate to people about the province's Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program; symptoms of tuberculosis; the level of danger and health effects of tuberculosis; disease prevention measures... contributing to helping people gain more knowledge and effectively prevent tuberculosis. In addition, implementing proactive tuberculosis screening to detect tuberculosis in the community, in the period of 2017 - 2022, Dong Thap Lung Hospital has conducted proactive tuberculosis screening using the 2X method (X-ray and Xpert) in the community for more than 6,150 people (including prisoners at Cao Lanh Prison and people in the districts: Cao Lanh, Lai Vung, Hong Ngu City, Sa Dec City). In the first 6 months of 2023 alone, proactive screening was conducted in the communes of Binh Thanh, Dinh Yen, and Lap Vo town (Lap Vo district) for 800 people who had contact with TB patients to have X-rays and Xpert tests, thereby detecting 12 TB cases.

Along with proactive screening in the community, Dong Thap Lung Hospital actively admits and treats people with tuberculosis. In recent days, Mr. NVT (31 years old, residing in Long Hau commune, Lai Vung district) was admitted to Dong Thap Lung Hospital for treatment. Mr. T. said that before, he thought only the elderly had pulmonary tuberculosis. However, 3 weeks ago, Mr. T. had a dry cough, chest pain, and prolonged shortness of breath; he bought medicine but it did not improve. Mr. T. went to Dong Thap General Hospital for examination. Through X-ray and examination, the doctor diagnosed that Mr. T. had signs of pulmonary tuberculosis, so he was transferred to Dong Thap Lung Hospital for treatment.

In fact, the progression and symptoms of tuberculosis are difficult to recognize, so many people only discover they have tuberculosis when they go to a medical facility for testing. For example, Mr. LVM (64 years old, residing in My Xuong commune, Cao Lanh district) has been treated at Dong Thap Lung Hospital for over a week. Mr. M. shared that he rarely does heavy work at home. For about a month now, he has shown signs of weight loss, fatigue, difficulty breathing, coughing a lot and often having a fever in the afternoon, so his family took him to the hospital for examination. After being examined by a doctor and having tests done, Mr. M. found out he had tuberculosis.

One of the difficulties in detecting, treating and managing tuberculosis in the province today is the current situation of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis; patients are still afraid and come to medical facilities for treatment late; the problem of stigma against people with tuberculosis in the community still exists. In addition, some people lack knowledge about tuberculosis, are subjective about the disease; abandon treatment, do not cooperate with treatment. There have been many changes in the staff in charge of tuberculosis prevention and control, and funding for tuberculosis prevention and control activities has been cut...

According to specialist I Nguyen Khoa Thi - Deputy Director of Dong Thap Lung Hospital, tuberculosis is a dangerous infectious disease, spreads quickly, is not hereditary but is caused by the patient's exposure to the tuberculosis virus or working in a toxic environment. If the patient does not detect the disease early and receive timely treatment, it can lead to death. In particular, tuberculosis in the community is very dangerous and easily spreads, if a person with tuberculosis is not treated in the community, he or she will infect many people. Currently, tuberculosis can occur at any age, concentrated in people aged 50 and over.

To prevent tuberculosis, specialist doctor Nguyen Khoa Thi recommends: “If people have unusual symptoms such as: dry cough, prolonged cough with phlegm, coughing up blood, weight loss, fatigue, shortness of breath... go to a medical facility immediately for examination and health check-up. For those who have contracted tuberculosis, they should follow the treatment regimen, take the right dose, the right amount and the right time to cure the disease. In particular, do not be subjective; take the initiative to check your health regularly to detect and treat promptly.”

MY XUYEN

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