- Tuberculosis is an infectious disease which is transmitted from the person to another by coughing.
- The patient may have infected several other people with whom he lives in close contact. The patient should, therefore, encourage such people to have themselves checked for tuberculosis when they become ill.
- Tuberculosis drugs are available, free of charge, at any Government health facility and in most mission hospitals.
- Once treatment with these drugs is begun symptoms of tuberculosis disease will disappear quickly, but the drugs still need to be continued daily until the end of the prescribed treatment period. Failure to comply with this treatment requirement may cause the disease to start again, with great risks for the health of the patient.
- The type of regimen and the exact number and type of tablets that the patients will take.
- How long the intensive phase and the continuation phase will take and where and when the drugs will be administered.
- To stop taking Thiazina and report to the COLS if he notices a generalized itchy rash on his skin. He will then be given other drugs.
- A sputum-smear examination is required at certain intervals to monitor the progress towards cure. Explain to the patient when the examination will be required.
After start of treatment; patients are requested to inform
the staff at the clinic when they intend to travel. An adequate supply of drugs
can then be given to cater for the period of traveling.
Patients are also requested to inform the staff at the
clinic when they intend to move to another area. The clinic staff will then
write a transfer letter and give advice as to where they can continue
treatment.
At the end of treatment; Tuberculosis disease may occur
again. The patient should therefore report immediately to the COLS, when he
notices similar symptoms, to be examined for replanse.
