- How long can bacteria survive?
Generally, the TB bacteria will be killed in 5 minutes after direct exposure to sunlight. But these bacteria can survive for up to 1 year in a dark, moist, and poorly ventilated area.
- When should a person be tested for TB?
A symptomatic person with cough for 2 or more weeks should seek medical consultation and his sputum/phlegm should be examined to detect the presence of TB bacilli.
- How contagious is TB?
A pulmonary TB patient whose sputum is positive for TB bacilli may infect approximately 10-20 persons in a year for 2 years. Once the patient starts taking anti-TB drugs, his/her sputum will become negative within 2 weeks in most patients. But he/she needs to take the drugs completely for 6 months to eliminate all the TB bacilli in the lungs and be cured.
- Is TB hereditary?
TB is NOT hereditary. Bacteria causing TB come from droplets from a person with TB when he/she coughs or sneezes. However, it is infectious such that family members of smear positive patients are at risk.
- When should sputum test be done?
Direct sputum smear examination (DSSM) should be done for persons with cough of 2 weeks or more. DSSM is the primary diagnostic tool because it is specific, simple, economical and it can be done even in remote areas of the country.
- When should X-ray be done?
A chest x-ray (CXR) may be used to establish the diagnosis of TB if the sputum is negative. The CXR is secondary to DSSM because there are no shadows in the CXR that are specific for TB and it is more expensive.
- How is TB treated?
TB can be cured if anti-TB drugs are taken regularly, in the correct dosage and for the right duration. Treatment will last for a minimum of 6 months. The complete anti-TB drugs for 6 months costs around P4,000.00. Since treatment for TB is expensive, the government provides free drugs so that patients will comply with the minimum 6 months, or 8 months if they are re-treatment cases.
- How is MDR-TB developed?
If patients do not take the drugs regularly or if they will not complete their treatment, they will develop Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB). This means that they will not be cured with the use of first-line drugs and they will continue to spread TB in the community. They will be using second-line anti-TB drugs which are more expensive, have more side effects and require treatment duration of 18-24 months. Moreover, the said drugs may not be available in the Philippines.
- What’s the best way to prevent MDR-TB?
The best prevention for MDR-TB is DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-course). If DOTS strategy is well implemented, every patient started on treatment will be cured and he/she will no longer spread the disease.
- How effective are DOTS?
DOTS cure TB patients and it can produce rates as high as 95% even in the poorest countries. DOTS prevents new infections among children and adults. DOTS can stop resistance to anti-TB drugs. DOTS is cost-effective.
- Where are DOTS located?
DOTS services are available in the rural health units, city health units, city health centers and government hospitals around the country. Currently, there are also private facilities – the Private-Public Mix DOTS (PPMD) Units – that are offering services to their clients.
- What is BCG?
The TB vaccine, BCG, which is more than 85 years old, provides some protection against severe forms of TB in children but is unreliable against pulmonary TB.
- How do we prevent spread of TB?
The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to find the TB patient early and provide treatment through DOTS to cure the patient. It is best for individuals to adopt a healthy lifestyle to boost the immune system. Remember to:
- engage in physical activity or exercise regularly
- get enough rest
- eat a balanced diet
- keep the living area well ventilated
- and maintain personal hygiene
- It is also best to cover the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.
