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Profession Doctors A new protocol in diagnosing TB among kids
Profession Doctors A new protocol in diagnosing TB among kids
A new protocol in diagnosing TB among kids |
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| Written by Jennibeth Cabrera | |
| Monday, 13 November 2006 | |
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A new protocol for diagnosing children who are suspected of having Tuberculosis(TB) or primary complex will be implemented by the Department of Health by January. The protocol was designed by the DOH in coordination with the various organization involved in anti-tuberculosis advocacies. They intend to recommend skin testing as the best way to diagnose tuberculosis among children. the tuberculosis skin test is a test to determine if someone has developed an immune response to the bacterium that causes TB though Sputum examination is also an effective way of detecting TB, children cannot be expected to expectorate or spit up mucus. Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, director of DOH's NAtional Center for Disease Prevention and Control said that government must implement the protocol as well as the private physicians and that they are already preparing a manual for use in training health professionals in implementing the protocol. However, because the focus of the country in past anti-TB campaigns were adults, no official survey has been done on TB among children. BAsed on the mortality surveillance conducted by the DOH, there is a high incidence of TB among Filipino children and that for the last five years, TB meningitis was among the top five killers of Filipino children. TB meningitis is the "extra-pulmonary" type of TB that affects the meningi- the membrane thet protects the brain but there can alco be TB in liver and bones. Oliveros added that all doctors should do away with x-rays as a means for checking TB because if childrens naturally weak immune systems. |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 November 2006 ) |
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