Cordillera logs 89 death due to Tuberculosis in 2024; DOH reminds public anew on importance of TB screenin

Baguio City, Philippines - Tuberculosis killed 10,426 people in the Philippines in 2023 and 89 of the cases were from the Cordillera region, according to the Department of Health.

With said health issue, the DOH - Cordillera is urging the public anew to not ignore the symptoms of the disease and to seek immediate medical treatment once experiencing symptoms.

Common symptoms of TB were two weeks of cough, two weeks of unexplained fever, weight loss, and sweating at night.

The regional health department, represented by its Nurse V Joyce Rillorta, reiterated that the public should go for screening and testing at the primary care provider near them if they have the symptoms.

Rillorta, during the Kapehan media forum in Baguio City last week, explained that a person with TB will surely transmit the disease to his/her household members that he or she is living with.

Thus, TB screening is important to prevent the spread of the disease. If not treated immediately, it can cause serious complications or even death.

The national government is providing free TB treatment through its TB control program.

Under the said program, patients will be provided with free anti-tuberculosis medications, TB diagnostic treatment and prevention services for the uninsured, consultation on TB case management, and screening to health care providers, among others.