Pneumonia in China has clearly sparked concerns about a similar event in Indonesia. However, Erlina Burhan, consultant lung specialist at Persahabatan Hospital, reminded that what you should be wary of is actually tuberculosis.
“Our TB is number 2 in the world. Now the numbers are rising again. “Previously (the incidence) was 969 thousand, this year (data) came out from WHO, the incidence in Indonesia is 1,060,000,” said Erlina, quoted from cnnindonesia.com, Friday (1/12/2023).
Drug-resistant TB (TB-RO) is a condition where Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria are resistant to first-line tuberculosis drugs. Patients must be given a combination of drugs and the treatment period is longer than for ordinary tuberculosis.
“Moreover, we want to eliminate TB by 2030, so instead of going down, the incidence is actually going up,” he added.
The TB situation in Indonesia is considered worrying. This disease caused by bacteria is transmitted through the droplets of infected people.
Common symptoms of tuberculosis include,
1. Body weakness
2. Weight loss drastically
3. Fever
4. Night sweats
5. Cough for three weeks or more
Then in severe conditions, the symptoms will get worse, such as,
1. Coughing up blood
2. Chest pain or pain when breathing
3. Shortness of breath
Handling tuberculosis (TB) in the work environment is very important. This is because workers, both those who work in factories and offices, are vulnerable to this infectious disease.
Director of Occupational Safety and Health Testing at the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) Maptuha said that it was important to break the chain of TB transmission. This is done so that not many workers within the company become infected.
“It is very important for companies and company owners to comply with TB control procedures, so that the disease can be pruned from the roots,” said Maptuha.
One of the important things that must be done is not to force sick employees to work. The company should give sick workers vacation time for approximately two weeks.
The employee must use these two weeks to rest and focus on his treatment.
Not only that, the company must also monitor compliance with taking medication and other health care from the patient concerned. Don’t let the patient experience drug withdrawal, because the TB they are experiencing can get worse and never heal.
Maptuha also suggested that companies monitor the work environment at workplaces where TB cases are found.
“You have to check whether the room is healthy, clean, whether there is air ventilation, what about the lighting. These things are important because TB can be transmitted indoors,” he said.
Several steps to prevent the transmission of TB to other people, as reported on the hellosehat.com page:
1. Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing
TB is transmitted through phlegm and saliva that comes out of the mouth. That is why covering your mouth when sneezing and coughing is one way that TB patients can prevent transmission to healthy people.
Even so, don’t cover your mouth and nose with the palm of your hand. Germs can be transferred to your hands and then transferred to other people when you shake hands or hold them.
It’s best to use a tissue and immediately throw it in the trash to prevent germs from spreading and prevent other people from touching it.
Afterwards, you need to wash your hands with soap or alcohol sanitizer. If you don’t have time to get a tissue, cover your mouth by turning your face to the side of your inner arm or inner elbow.
While experiencing TB symptoms such as coughing and sneezing, use a mask when sick in public places as a way to prevent transmission of the disease. You also need to learn good and correct cough etiquette.
2. Don’t spit or throw phlegm carelessly
Just like coughing or sneezing in public, expectoration and spitting should not be done casually.
The bacteria contained in saliva splashes can fly into the air, then be inhaled by people around you.
If you want to get rid of phlegm or spit, do it in the bathroom. Flush the spit with water and a disinfectant cleaning agent until it is rinsed clean.
3. Reduce social interaction
Apart from maintaining personal hygiene, it is also necessary to avoid interactions that involve close contact with other people as a way to prevent TB.
If possible, try to do activities or sleep in a separate room.
Limit travel time, don’t stay too long in places that are crowded with people, especially public transportation.
If you don’t have an urgent need, just rest more at home.
Tuberculosis sufferers with antibiotic-resistant conditions are required to self-isolate until they are completely cured of the bacterial infection.
Nurses or other people who come into contact with drug-resistant TB sufferers need to use personal protective equipment and clothing as a preventive measure.
4. Let sunlight enter the room
When staying at home, make sure the room you live in is kept clean. Germs that cause TB can generally survive in the open air for 1-2 hours, depending on whether there is exposure to sunlight, humidity and the ventilation system in the house.
In dark, damp and cold conditions, TB germs can survive for days, even months.
However, TB bacteria can die immediately if exposed to direct sunlight. That is why it is recommended to open windows and curtains when the weather is sunny.
Let sunlight in to kill TB germs that may be living in the house.
When you open the windows, air circulation can help push germs out of the house so they die when exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun outside.
5. Limit contact with vulnerable groups
One of the determining factors whether a person can contract TB or not is how strong their immune system is and their personal hygiene. The stronger your immune system, the less likely you are to contract TB.
People whose immune systems are weak tend to become infected more easily.
According to the American disease control and prevention agency, CDC, groups at higher risk of being infected with TB due to a weak immune system include children, pregnant women, the elderly, cancer sufferers, autoimmune disease sufferers, latent TB sufferers, people who not undergoing complete TB treatment, people infected with TB bacteria within the last 2 years
People with certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS also need to be checked for TB. Likewise, diabetes sufferers need to undergo a TB test.
Both of these diseases cause the immune system to weaken, making it easier to become infected with TB.
To prevent TB, active TB patients need to limit social contact with people with this health condition.
There is no special way that healthy people can do to prevent or avoid transmission of pulmonary TB disease.
The presence of TB bacteria that spreads through the air is very difficult to detect directly.
That is why, those who are healthy (not yet infected at all) should avoid/limit close contact with TB sufferers as much as possible.
If you live under the same roof and have to interact every day with sufferers or even need to care for them, it is important to use personal protective equipment such as masks and adopt a clean and healthy lifestyle.
Washing hands, keeping the house and residence clean are preventive measures that can be taken by healthy people to prevent TB.
Meanwhile, to prevent TB disease in children and babies, early immunization needs to be done. Currently, the vaccine that effectively protects the body from TB bacterial infection is the BCG vaccine. 7
2023-12-10 04:27:09
#Stay #Aware #Tuberculosis
