TUBERCULOSIS

What You Need to Know

About Tuberculosis (TB)

The TB Scenario
Defining TB: Cause, Transmission, and
Manifestations

Risk of TB infection

Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis

TB Treatment and Cure

Preventing transmission

Proper Management of TB cases

TB Burden in the World

1/3 of the World Population is
Infected
1 Person is Infected per Second
1.9 Million People Die of TB each
Year
Philippines is 1 of the worlds 22

TB Burden in the
Philippines
22 million reported
infections
TB kills 75 Filipinos per
day
TB is the 6th leading
cause of Mortality and
Morbidity
Undiagnosed TB cases
remain high in local

What is Tuberculosis?
TUBERCULOSIS is an infectious
disease caused by a micro bacteria
called Tubercle bacilli. It is
airborne. It usually affects the lungs but
may also affect other organs in the body
like the meninges, bones, kidneys etc.

The Tubercle Bacilli

Characteristics:
slow growing

Other Names:

Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
TB germ

can survive inside

cells of the
human body
exposure to direct
sunlight can kill
the bacteria in
sputum

How is it transmitted?
The TB Bacilli spreads through
airborne inhalation of droplets of
infection coming from a TB patient
whenever a person

sneezes,
mouth.

coughs or

without covering his

How Are TB Germs NOT Spread?

Through quick, casual contact, like passing
someone on the street
By sharing utensils or food
By sharing cigarettes or drinking
containers
By exchanging saliva or other body fluids
By shaking hands
Using public telephones

How does PTB develop?

1.

TB bacilli enters the body

and lodges in the lungs
(TB Infection).

2.

In the lungs, they

multiply and slowly eat
the cells and the body

A person is infected
after inhaling droplets

begins to experience

from a person with TB

symptoms (TB Disease)

3.

If undiagnosed, lungs
cells are eaten up leading

TB Infection vs. TB Disease

There is a difference between TB infection
and TB disease
TB infection: TB germs stay in your lungs, but
they do not multiply or make you sick
You cannot pass TB germs to others

TB disease: TB germs stay in your lungs or

move to other parts of your body, multiply, and
make you sick
You can pass the TB germs to other people

Treatment for TB Infection

What are the signs and symptoms of

TB?

Persistent cough for at least 2 weeks

Chest pains/ Back Pains (breathlessness)

Persistent low grade fever for more than a

month Significant weight loss with or with
out loss of appetite

Hemoptysis (Blood-tinged sputum)

Feeling of weakness (tiredness)

Night Sweats

Treatment for TB Disease

TB disease is treated with medicine to kill
the TB germs
Usually, the treatment will last for 6-9
months
TB disease can be cured if the medicine is
taken as prescribed, even after you no
longer feel sick

Who are at risk of getting

TB?

People who share the same breathing

space with someone who has infectious
TB

Health workers, specially those working

in long-term facilities (prison,
sanitariums, etc.)

People whose immune systems are

compromised (People with HIV infection,
Pneumonia, Chronic lung disease, etc)

Who are at risk

People exposed to silica and those with

jobs that compromise the respiratory
system (mine workers)

People underweight and malnourished

(esp. Children)

Alcoholics and IV drug users

Others

How is TB diagnosed?
1.

Sputum
Microscopy

It shows the TB
bacilli in the
sputum

It is the most
definitive
diagnostic tool of
Tuberculosis

How is TB diagnosed?
2.

Chest X-Ray

Determines
extent of the
lung damage

Not a very
definitive
diagnostic tool

How is TB cured?

TB can be cured.
DOTS (Directly-Observed Treatment
Short Course) is the recommended
strategy to cure TB.
It ensures the right combination and
dosage of anti-TB drugs.
It ensures regular and complete intake
of anti-TB drugs.
Patient takes drugs every day with the
help of a treatment partner.

With proper treatment

We want to treat patients with DOTS:
1.

To make them get well as soon as

possible

2.

To make them stop spreading the

disease onto others in the community

3.

To avoid complications and multi-drug

resistance (MDR)

How can TB be prevented?

1.

BCG vaccination for infants (newborn to 1 year

old).
This gives 80-85% protection against
development of complicated TB among children;

2.

Hygienic practices like covering the mouth when

coughing and sneezing; and

3.

Early diagnosis and treatment of TB infectious

cases
to stop transmission

Other Preventive Measures

Maintain open air circulation inside the house

Have enough sleep

Eat nutritious food that boost the immune

system

Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and use of

prohibited drugs

What are some misconception about

Misconceptions

Facts

TB is mana-mana

TB is hawa-hawa

TB results from Pasma

and naulanan

TB is due a bacteria known

as the Tubercle bacilli

TB is transmitted through
sharing utensils with a
person with TB

TB is transmitted through
inhalation of the droplet
nuclei from a person with
TB

TB is not curable. One

should be ashamed of his
disease.

TB can be cured. The

patients commitment is
important. Everyones
support is important in
fighting TB.

REMINDER
If you experience the
signs and symptoms of
TB, do not be ashamed.
Immediately visit our
clinic for proper diagnosis
and treatment