Arming Oneself Against An Old Enemy

I am currently attending Day 2 of the Seminary/Training on TB in children for Doctors and Nurses. The training is conducted by the Regional Coordinating Committee-Public-Private Mix DOTS, together with the Provincial health office of the Province of Negros Occidental. Yesterday was spent for "learning" how to do Tuberculin Skin Testing. It was another eye-opener for many of the doctors. The last time many of the doctors conducted TST was during our med school days (internship). We went to a public school in Talisay and conducted TST among 300 children. I was able to conduct TST on 15 children.

It was also an opportunity to meet an old friend and classmate, Dr. Reuben, who is now the Medical Officer-IV of Sagay CHO. He is also undergoing the same training. The last time I saw Bill was when I was still a medical clerk.

Day 2 (today) is a more technical day for all of us; studying the module and re-learning how to approach children with Pulmonary TB. Tuberculosis is an old disease and almost all Filipinos are exposed to this disease. In fact, it is far deadlier than the current A(H1N1) virus. Luckily, the PTB bacilli are treatable and the treatment is free.

During the discussion, many of the problems expressed by the RHP's include the failure of some Pedia and I.M. residents in government hospitals to follow the DOTS principle. What is happening usually is when a patient seeks consultation at a government hospital's OPD or ER and if the taken Chest X-ray shows possible PTB infection, residents would usually prescribe almost routinely anti-Koch's medications. Many however of these patients who go to government hospitals are poor and therefore cannot afford the full course of the regimen (6 months, daily). That is why, many of these patients would go to the RHU and seek help for free treatment. Unfortunately, RHU staff are following the DOTS protocol and for a patient to get free treatment, patient must be sputum positive or, if sputum negative with Chest X-ray, a TB Diagnostic Committee must provide the diagnosis.

That is why, everyone was in concensus. They too must also be taught how to manage TB patients according to WHO guidelines. TB is still high simply because there is no stricy adherence to the WHO guidelines.

And now, we are training ourselves how to fight this disease in children. Many of our kids infected with TB can potentially die if left untreated or if continuously exposed to adults with PTB.

We do hope we can help eradicate this disease.