Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by TB bacteriaa (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that primarily affects the lungs.

  This condition
is known as pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).  You may also have tuberculosis in the bones, meninges, joints, genito-urinary tract, liver,
kidneys, intestines and heart and this is called extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

How is TB diagnosed?

Pulmonary TB is suspected if a person has symptoms of cough for more than 2 weeks, fever, chest and back pains, poor appetite, loss of
weight and hemoptysis.  He should seek medical consultation and his sputum should be sxamined to detect the presense of TB
germs/bacteria.

How is TB treated?

Tuberculosis is a curable disease.  Patients are prescribed with appropriate regimen to render them non-infectious and cured, as early as
possible.  The treatment for TB is a combination of 3-4 anti-TB drugs.  NEVER should we prescribe a SINGLE DRUG for TB treatmetn!  This
will worsen the patient's condition.

What is DOTS?

D.O.T.S stands for Directly-Observed Treatment Short0course.  It is a comprehensive strategy endorsed by the World Health Organization
(WHO) and International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) to detect and cure TB patients.

There are five elements of DOTS that need to be fulfilled.  These are:

a. political commitment
b. quality sputum microscopy for diagnosis
c. regular supply of anti-TB drugs
d. standardized recording and reporting of TB data
e. supervised treatment by a treatment partner

According to the WHO Report on the TB Epidemic, 1997:

 DOTS cure TB patients and it can produce cure rates as high as 95% even in the poorest countries.
 DOTS prevent new infections among children and adults
 DOTS can stop resistance to anti-TB drugs.
 DOTS is cost-effective.

How can we avail of DOTS Services?

DOTS services are available in the rural health units, city health units, city health centers and government hospitals around the country. 
Currently, there are also private facilities that are offering DOTS services to their clients

DOTS is also sometimes used to refer more narrowly to "directly observed" tuberculosis treatment (i.e., the use of health workers to
directly enforce compliance with drug regimens), but we use the term as the World Health Organization does.

Dental Health Program

ComprehensiveDental Health Program aims to improve the quality of life of the people through the attainment of the highest possible
oral health. Its objective is to prevent and control dental diseases and conditions like dental caries and periodontal diseases thus reducing
their prevalence.

Targeted priorities are vulnerable groups such as the 5-12 year old children and pregnant women. Strategies of the program include social
mobilization through advocacy meetings, partnership with GOs and NGOs, orientation/updates and monitoring adherence to standards.

To attain orally fit children, the program focuses on the following package of activities: oral examination and prophylaxis; sodium fluoride
mouth rinsing; supervised tooth brushing drill; pit and fissure sealant application; a-traumatic restorative treatment and IEC. The Program
also integrates its activities with the Maternal and Child Health Program, the Nutrition Program and theGarantisadong Pambata activities
of the WHSMP.
Expanded Program on Immunization
Children need not die young if they receive complete and timely immunization. Children who are not fully immunized are more
susceptible to common childhood diseases. TheExpanded Program on Immunizationis one of the DOH Programs that has already been
institutionalized and adopted by all LGUs in the region. Its objective is to reduce infant mortality and morbidity through decreasing the
prevalence of six (6) immunizable diseases (TB, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and measles)

Special campaigns have been undertaken to improve further program implementation, notably the National Immunization Days
(NID), Knock Out Polio (KOP) and Garantisadong Pambata (GP) since 1993 to 2000. This is being supported by increasing/sustaining the
routine immunization and improved surveillance system.

Prenatal Care
-this is essential for ensuring the overall health of newborns and their mothers.
-a good prenatal care results in proper monitoring of the progress of the pregnancy.

Purpose
 Establish a baseline of present health
 Determine the gestational age of the fetus
 It checks the health condition of the mother and baby as they undergo changes that takes place from conception to the time the
mother goes into labor.
 Monitor fetal development
 Identify the woman at risk for complications by anticipating and preventing problems before they occur.
 Provide time for education about pregnancy and possible dangers

Access to early and regular prenatal care has a direct effect on the health outcomes of both mothers and infants. Babies born to mothers
who have not had prenatal care have more health problems (e.g., preterm delivery, low birth weight babies) than babies born to mothers
receiving adequate and regular prenatal care. Mothers who have not had regular prenatal care also have more health problems during
and after delivery. Providing adequate and regular care to expecting mothers can save both mother and child’s lives.
Many women still do not receive adequate prenatal care due to lack of insurance or insufficient health insurance. Undocumented
residents of Tennessee who are expectant mothers often do not seek prenatal care due to fears about deportation. Mothers living in rural
areas often do not have local hospital obstetrics units.
The Tennessee Department of Health is committed to educating communities about prenatal care. The Department has a number of
services that work with communities and families to support prenatal care. Below is a list and description of services offered through the
Department or your local county health department.
Prenatal Care Program: Basic prenatal care services are provided at all local health department clinics and include pregnancy testing,
education, presumptive eligibility and TennCare enrollment, referral for WIC and referral for obstetric medical management. Selected
counties across the state provide full service obstetrical care for pregnant women. For more information, call your local health
department or call (615) 741-7353.
Perinatal Regionalization: The perinatal regionalization program was established to provide for the diagnosis and treatment of certain
life-threatening conditions of pregnant women and newborn infants. The five regional perinatal centers across the state have made this
specialized care available by providing a statewide mechanism to health care providers for consultation and referral of high risk patients;
transport of these patients, if necessary; personnel skilled in high risk perinatal care; post-graduate education for physicians, nurses, and
other medical personnel; and site visits to local hospitals. For more information, call (615) 741-7353.