TUBERCULOSIS (TB) remains to be a health problem, the Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region said.
Health Regional Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program head Evelyn Gelito said even though they have not yet completed the data last year, initial numbers show just a very slight decrease.
Data obtained from the DOH-Davao showed that there were 12,890 tuberculosis cases noted as of February 2017, of which 742 cases were children, while 2016 has 13,501 cases with 916 children.
"We can attribute this number of cases to the program of the Department of Health, which means a lot of people are becoming aware at nagpapakonsulta sa kani-kanilang mga doctor," Gelito said.
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacterium so-called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is mainly acquired by inhalation of infectious droplet containing viable tubercle bacilli.
Gelito said infectious droplets can be produced by coughing, sneezing, talking and singing. She added that coughing is generally considered as the most able way of producing infectious droplets.
In commemoration of the World Tuberculosis Day, which will be on March 24, with the theme: "Wanted: Leaders for a TB-Free World," Gelito said health workers are focusing on building assurance to end TB.
"The focus of the program is to find the missing TB cases, which means we are requesting those who have coughs for over a week already to have themselves check-up in nearby centers/hospitals," Gelito said.
Among the symptoms of the TB are coughing for more than a week, sudden loss of weight and energy, poor appetite, fever, and night sweating, to immediately consult a physician once these symptoms manifest.
People with those symptoms, Gelito said, have nothing to be afraid of. She added that tuberculosis is treatable.