Closing campaign, City Hall carries out active search for tuberculosis in ITA patients

In addition to being the deadliest infection in the world, tuberculosis is also a social problem, often linked to the precarious conditions in which the individual lives. Therefore, there is a population that is more vulnerable to infection, such as people deprived of their liberty, living with HIV or living on the streets.

Arapiraca City Hall, through the Municipal Health Department, set aside the month of March to carry out an extensive program of awareness-raising actions about the disease, which is treatable and curable, in allusion to the International Day to Combat Tuberculosis, celebrated on 24 of March.

The program, which included classes and lectures in schools in Arapiraquense and also at the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), was held in institutions such as Caps AD and Lar Semear, and ended this Tuesday (26) with an event at the Institute Teodora Albuquerque (ITA).

Patients were treated to a lecture on the subject and combat and prevention services, with a sputum smear test being collected for patients with possible symptoms. The work was carried out by the Municipal Coordination for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, in partnership with CRIA and the ITA team of professionals.

Nurse Edimeire Maurício highlighted the importance of public action within the institution and thanked the secretariat for the partnership. “Here we work with people in vulnerable situations, who are often despised by their own families and need all the support possible, from within, so we from the ITA team want to thank the City Hall for their partnership and say that everyone is always well -coming to do good for our patients”, he stated.

Prevention, treatment and cure

Tuberculosis is an infection mainly prevented by the BCG vaccine, which is available in the SUS and must be administered to children at birth (or at most up to 4 years of age). Other simple ways are: maintaining well-ventilated environments with sunlight, avoiding crowds and protecting your mouth with your forearm or a tissue when coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms consist of a dry cough or cough for more than three weeks, excessive tiredness, fever, night sweats, lack of appetite, severe weight loss and hoarseness. If an infection is suspected, the patient should seek a Basic Health Unit, where most cases are treated.