Question & AnswerQ&A (DOH ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2008-0011)
The primary goal is to reduce TB prevalence and mortality by half by 2010 compared to 2000, contributing to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) by 2015.
These guidelines apply to all health facilities, agencies, and organizations implementing tuberculosis control programs among children aged 0-14 years old in the Philippines.
Close contact is defined as a person living in the same household as or in frequent contact with a source case of tuberculosis.
The TBDC, established at the province, city, or district level, reviews sputum smear-negative cases with chest x-ray suggestive of pulmonary TB and is composed of NTP medical/nurse coordinators, a radiologist, and a clinician.
A child is considered TB symptomatic if they exhibit any three of the following symptoms: cough or wheezing for 2 weeks or more, unexplained fever for 2 weeks or more, weight loss or failure to gain weight, failure to respond to 2 weeks of antibiotics for respiratory infection, failure to regain health 2 weeks after viral infection, or fatigue/lethargy.
Diagnosis depends on history and clinical examination, and may include Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST), Direct Sputum Smear Microscopy (DSSM), and Chest X-ray (CXR). Trial treatment with anti-TB drugs is not recommended for diagnosis.
Upon diagnosis, efforts should be made to detect and cure the source case, and treatment should follow the 2006 WHO recommended drug dosages and regimens using the DOT strategy.
IPT is the administration of isoniazid to individuals who have not been infected to prevent development of TB disease, especially for children who are close contacts of TB cases.
BCG vaccination shall be given to all infants to prevent severe types of TB, but revaccination is not recommended according to the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) policies.
Quarterly reports must be submitted to the Infectious Disease Office through proper channels, including indicators like the number of children screened, treated, types of TB cases, and outcomes like treatment completion and cure rates.