PTB Program What Is Tuberculosis?

PTB PROGRAM
What is Tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease caused by bacterium
called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. The bacteria can enter the
body, usually the lungs, and make a person sick buy damaging
the tissues that it reaches.
How do you get TB?
When a person with TB of the lungs coughs, shouts or sings, TB
bacteria is expelled into the air. The bacteria is carried within tiny,
invisible droplets of moisture hat can float in the air for several
hours. Any person who inhales these droplets can become
infected with TB. It does not matter if that person is rich or poor,
educated or illiterate, malnourished or obese. The person who
breathes the TB bacteria will have TB infection.
TB is not caused by perspiration drying in ones back, by over-
exertion or fatigue.
TB is not caused by smoking or pollution although these clearly
damage the lungs.
TB is not caused by poor nutrition although this could make a
person who inhales a TB bacterium more likely to develop TB
disease.
TB is not transmitted through food or drinks using other utensils.
TB is acquired through exposure to someone sick with active TB of
the lungs.
What is TB infection?
If you have spent time at home, in school, at work or elsewhere,
with someone who has active TB of the lungs, you may have
unknowingly inhaled the TB bacteria. If you have breathed in the
TB germ, then you have been infected (you have TB infection).
This is different from TB disease. In TB infection do not have any
symptoms. If their immune systems are normal, only one out of
ten persons with TB infection will later develop signs and
symptoms of TB disease. The other nine out of ten will have no
manifestations of TB disease and will remain health. If HIV
infection, canc3er, malnutrition, immunity-suppressing drugs or
other conditions have weakened their immune system, the TB-
infected persons will soon develop active TB disease.
How do you know if you have TB infection?

If you have been in contact with someone diagnosed to have
active pulmonary TB, you can be tested for TB infection. The
recommended test for TB infection is the tuberculin skin test
using the Mantoux method where the tuberculin (or PDD) is
injected into the skin. This is read after 48 hours to 72 hours. The
skin test using the multiple-prong or prick devices are not
recommended.
You doctor must read the skin test and if this is found to be
positive, he must look for evidence of typical tissue damaged by
TB by ordering chest X-ray. If your tuberculin test is positive but
you have symptoms and your chest X-ray is normal, then you
have TB infection. If you have findings on chest X-ray compatible
with TB and your skin test is positive, then you have TB disease
particularly if you have symptoms that suggest active pulmonary
TB. (See TB disease)
Is TB infection contagious?
No. TB infections is not infectious to others. In TB infection, there
has not been enough tissue damage (unlike in TB disease) to
cause symptoms. A person with TB infection does not have
bacteria in his or her lungs that can be coughed out into the air
and infect others.
Does TB infection have to be treated?
Not at all with TB infection are given treatment by their
physicians. Only one out of ten persons with TB infection will
eventually develop TB disease (become sick with the symptoms
of TB). Unfortunately it is impossible to identify which person who
becomes TB infected will be the one who later develops TB
disease. But it is possible to treat the person with TB infection
with an anti-TB medication to eliminate the changes of developing
TB disease.
The medication used to treat infection (isoniazid or INH) can
cause liver toxicity particularly in older individuals. This must be
weighed against the benefit of treating TB infection (elimination
of 100% chance of developing TB disease).
Some individuals with TB infection may choose not to be treated.
These persons should be informed about the symptoms of TB
disease and should be instructed to visit physician for evaluation
should they ever develop these symptoms.
What is TB Disease?
When the infection TB bacteria are not neutralized by a persons
immune system, they can multiply and travel to other parts of the
body. The fight between these TB germs and bodys immune
system can result in tissue destruction in the body part that
bacteria reach. This will produce the symptoms and signs of TB
disease. Although any part of the body can be involved, the body
site most commonly affected with TB disease is the lung
(pulmonary TB). TB disease outside the lungs and throat is not
contagious.
When someone with active TB (disease) of the lungs or throat
coughs or sings, the TB germs are propelled into the surrounding
air ready to infect the next person who inhales them. The phlegm
or sputum coughed out by theses persons who may show the TB
bacteria if examined under the microscope (smear-positive
cases). These are the most infectious cases of TB and must be
treated and cured to stop the spread of TB in our communities.
What are the symptoms of TB disease?
1. Cough that does not go away for three weeks
2. Coughing up blood
3. Prolonged fever
4. Night or afternoon sweats
5. Constant tiredness
6. Loss of weight and loss of appetite
Any person who develops these symptoms must be evaluated by
their physicians for the possibility of TB disease.
What are the tests for TB diseases?
1. Sputum examination for Acid-Fast Bacili (AFB smear)
This is done by smearing as sample of coughed-up phlegm
(sputum) on a glass slide, treating this with special dyes and then
examining the specimen under a microscope. If TB Bacili are seen
then the patient has active TB disease. It is best to have three
separate sputum specimens examined to increase the likelihood
of finding these bacilli. Unfortunately theses acid-fast bacilli are
not always seen on sputum examination even in persons with
active lung TB.
2. Chest X-ray
This may be helpful in cases when the acid-fast bacilli are not
seen on sputum examination. However, chest X-rays with findings
suggestive of TB are not definitive proof that disease is really TB.
There are other disease that may mimic the appearance of TB on
chest X-rays. It also frequently difficult to judge if the lung disease
is active or not by chest X-rays.
3. TB culture of sputum or other specimen
This is done by growing the TB bacteria in the laboratory but this
is expensive and may require up to 8 weeks for final results.
What is the treatment of TB disease?
Persons with TB can be cured through regular and complete
intake and prescribed anti-TB medications. Because patients
frequently stop taking their medications before competing
treatment, the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS)
strategy is recommended.
The strategy requires that the health providers use sputum
microscopic (AFB smears) for diagnosis. Your doctor should use
standard treatment regimens make sure your health is closely
observed by your physicians.
Isonized (INH), Rifampicin and Pyrazinamide
1. Given to new case of TB for the first two months. INH and
rifamcipin are continued for another four months
2. In the Philippines, it is prudent to treat new cases with a
fourth drug (ethambutol or streptomycin) during the first
two months due to high levels if INH resistance in the
country.
What is the best way to prevent spread of tuberculosis?
The best way to prevent the spread of tuberculosis is to treat and
care all patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The
vaccination for TB known as BCG may prevent children from
developing the most severe forms of TB.
What should you do if someone you have spent a lot of
time with is diagnosed to have pulmonary TB?
See your doctor and ask him to determine if you have develop TB
infection.
Managements Program and Procedure in Dealing with
PTB
1. The company nurse shall notify employees with positive
PTB result thru a written notice immediately after the
receipt of results. The nurse will simultaneously notify the
Health Committee. The Health Committee is composed of
company nurse, the employees department head, She
Officer, HR Head and a rank and file employee (if
necessary), appointment to be approved by the Vice
President.
2. Employees shall submit himself/herself for check up to an
accredited clinic of the company. Checkup fee shall be
shouldered by the office.
3. The Employee may or may not continue working,
depending on the doctors recommendation.
4. Employee who advised to rest and undergo medication
should heed to the doctors advice and undergo treatment
at his own expense. The sick employee may opt to go to
Health Center in his/her place to avail of the governments
fee PTB medication program.
5. The sick employee shall submit format notice to the
company regarding his/her leave of absence with
supporting documents. He/She may avail to use all his/her
unused sick/vacation leave benefits.
6. HR could extend assistance by way of helping the
employee to secure his/her PHIC and SSS benefits.
7. After the medication period, employee shall report to HRD
to submit medical clearance certificate from the
companys accredited clinic and a formal notice of his
intention to go back to work on an extension of his
medication period, otherwise the employee shall be
considered AWOL (Absent without official leave).
8. Upon medical clearance HRD shall issue employee a
Return to Work Order (RTWO).

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PTB PROGRAM

How do you know if you have TB infection?

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