THE PERCEIVED CAUSES OF TUBERCULOSIS AND THE PREVENTIVE MEASURES APPLIED BY PASSENGER JEEPNEY DRIVERS IN LAGRO, QUEZON CITY
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study Tuberculosis (TB) is considered as the world’s deadliest disease and remains as a major public health problem in the Philippines. TB is a highly infectious chronic disease caused by the tubercle bacilli. It is primarily a respiratory disease but can also affect other organs of the body and is common among malnourished individuals living in crowded areas. It often occurs in children of underdeveloped and developing countries in the form of primary complex especially after a bout of a debilitating childhood disease such as measles. (Public Health Nursing in the Philippines, 2007). In 1993, TB was declared as global emergency by the World Health Organization because of the resurgence of TB in many parts of the world. In the Philippines, TB ranks sixth in the leading cause of morbidity (2002) and mortality (2002). The estimated incidence rate of all TB cases in the Philippines is 243/100,000 population /year (WHO Report, 2006). The country ranks 9 among the 22 high burdened countries under the WHO watch list. The signs and symptoms of Tb are cough of two weeks or more, fever, chest or back pains not referable to any musculo-skeletal disorders, hemoptysis or recurrent blood-streaked sputum, significant weight loss, other signs and symptoms such as sweating, fatigue, body malaise and shortness of breath. Some preventive measures that can be done include prompt diagnosis and treatment of infectious cases, BCG vaccination of newborn, infants and grade 1/school entrants, educating the public in the mode of spread and methods of control and the importance of early diagnosis, improving social conditions, which increase the risk of becoming infected, such as overcrowding, making available medical checkup, laboratory and x-ray facilities for examination of patients, contacts and suspects, and facilities for early treatment of cases and persons at high risk of infection and beds for those needing hospitalization,
INTRODUCTION
Background of the study Tuberculosis (TB) is considered as the world’s deadliest disease and remains as a major public health problem in the Philippines. TB is a highly infectious chronic disease caused by the tubercle bacilli. It is primarily a respiratory disease but can also affect other organs of the body and is common among malnourished individuals living in crowded areas. It often occurs in children of underdeveloped and developing countries in the form of primary complex especially after a bout of a debilitating childhood disease such as measles. (Public Health Nursing in the Philippines, 2007). In 1993, TB was declared as global emergency by the World Health Organization because of the resurgence of TB in many parts of the world. In the Philippines, TB ranks sixth in the leading cause of morbidity (2002) and mortality (2002). The estimated incidence rate of all TB cases in the Philippines is 243/100,000 population /year (WHO Report, 2006). The country ranks 9 among the 22 high burdened countries under the WHO watch list. The signs and symptoms of Tb are cough of two weeks or more, fever, chest or back pains not referable to any musculo-skeletal disorders, hemoptysis or recurrent blood-streaked sputum, significant weight loss, other signs and symptoms such as sweating, fatigue, body malaise and shortness of breath. Some preventive measures that can be done include prompt diagnosis and treatment of infectious cases, BCG vaccination of newborn, infants and grade 1/school entrants, educating the public in the mode of spread and methods of control and the importance of early diagnosis, improving social conditions, which increase the risk of becoming infected, such as overcrowding, making available medical checkup, laboratory and x-ray facilities for examination of patients, contacts and suspects, and facilities for early treatment of cases and persons at high risk of infection and beds for those needing hospitalization,