A highly contagious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs, spread through airborne droplets when infected individuals cough or sneeze.
See a doctor immediately if you have a cough lasting more than 2-3 weeks, especially if accompanied by coughing blood, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or fever. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent transmission to others and improve outcomes.
Find a Specialist NowTuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in the Philippines, which ranks among the top countries with the highest TB burden globally. Despite being both preventable and curable, TB continues to affect hundreds of thousands of Filipinos each year. Understanding this disease is crucial for protecting yourself, your family, and your community.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While TB primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), it can also attack other parts of the body, including the kidneys, spine, and brain (extrapulmonary TB).
TB spreads through the air when a person with active pulmonary TB coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings, releasing tiny droplets containing the bacteria. People nearby may inhale these droplets and become infected. However, not everyone who is infected becomes sick.
This distinction is crucial for understanding TB:
Latent TB Infection (LTBI):
Active TB Disease:
The Philippines faces significant challenges in TB control:
High Burden: The country has one of the highest TB incidence rates in the world, with an estimated 650,000 Filipinos developing TB each year.
Late Diagnosis: Many cases are detected late, when the disease is more severe and has already been transmitted to others.
Drug-Resistant TB: The emergence of drug-resistant strains complicates treatment. Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) requires longer, more expensive treatment with more toxic drugs.
Contributing Factors: Poverty, malnutrition, overcrowded living conditions, limited healthcare access, and high rates of HIV and diabetes all contribute to TB's persistence.
The hallmark symptoms of pulmonary TB include:
The Classic Triad:
Additional Symptoms:
These symptoms develop gradually, which is why many people delay seeking care. Any cough lasting more than two weeks should prompt medical evaluation.
Several tests can diagnose TB:
Sputum Smear Microscopy: The traditional method where sputum (phlegm) is examined under a microscope for TB bacteria. This is widely available in the Philippines.
GeneXpert Test: A rapid molecular test that can detect TB and drug resistance within hours. This is increasingly available at health centers.
Chest X-ray: Can show lung abnormalities suggestive of TB but cannot confirm the diagnosis alone.
TB Culture: The most accurate test but takes weeks for results.
Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) or TB Blood Tests: Used to detect latent TB infection.
TB is curable with proper treatment. The standard treatment for drug-susceptible TB involves:
First-Line Medications (6-9 month course):
Treatment Phases:
DOTS Strategy: The Philippines implements the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy, where a healthcare worker, family member, or community volunteer watches the patient take their medication. This ensures treatment completion and helps prevent drug resistance.
Drug-Resistant TB: MDR-TB and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) require longer treatment (18-24 months) with more drugs that have more side effects. These cases should be managed at specialized centers.
Stopping treatment early or taking medications inconsistently can:
Even when you start feeling better (often within weeks of starting treatment), you must complete the entire course of medication.
For Individuals:
BCG Vaccination: The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is given to infants in the Philippines to prevent severe forms of TB in children. While it doesn't prevent all TB infections, it significantly reduces severe childhood TB.
For Household Contacts:
During Treatment:
Preventing Spread to Family:
The Philippine government provides free TB diagnosis and treatment through:
Don't let cost be a barrier to seeking care—TB treatment is available at no cost.
TB stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking care. Remember:
If you or someone you know has TB, focus on treatment completion and recovery. With proper care, TB can be defeated.
The fight against TB in the Philippines requires individual action and community commitment. Get tested if you have symptoms, complete treatment if diagnosed, and help spread awareness—not the disease.
Based on related specialties
Made with care for Filipino healthcare
