WHO noted, as many as 1.4 million people died from TB in 2019.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Disease tuberculosis or TBC is considered as dangerous as Covid-19, it can even be deadly if not treated completely. The two health problems that occur in Indonesia also have similar modes of transmission, namely from coughing or sneezing of an infected person and the respiratory organs being attacked.
Covid-19 occurs due to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, while tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis which both attacks the respiratory organs, namely the lungs. Coordinator of Tuberculosis Substance at the Directorate of Directly Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (P2PML) of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Tiffany Tiara Pakasi, invites everyone to work together to overcome two diseases that have similar modes of transmission.
“The lethal effect may be faster than Covid-19, but actually TB is also deadly if it is not treated completely until it is cured,” he said in a health webinar about TB, Thursday (12/8).
The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that 1.4 million people died from tuberculosis in 2019. Worldwide, this disease is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause of single infectious agent (above HIV/AIDS).
Although deadly, TB can be treated and cured. Since 2000, an estimated 63 million lives have been saved through TB diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the patient still has to take regular medication until he recovers.
Adherence to taking medication also helps prevent drug resistance which makes treatment last longer and has the potential to spread to contacts. On the other hand, tuberculosis services are also sought not to stop even during the pandemic. “TBC in the Covid-19 period, patients must continue to take medication. Vulnerable groups, please don’t be ignored, especially children, pregnant women, the elderly, patients with comorbidities because they are still alive and well. TB needs to be tackled too,” said Tiara.
However, given the adjustment during this pandemic related to logistics, there is relaxation in taking medicine. Tiara allowed the medicine to be taken from once a week to once every two weeks.
In addition, for the sake of prevention, healthy people are advised to continue implementing clean and healthy living behaviors such as eating a balanced nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and diligently washing hands with running water and soap. It is also important to ensure that the house gets adequate sunlight and ventilation, wears a mask and applies proper cough etiquette. “It is important that there is still education for TB prevention during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Tiara.
source: Between
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