TB Care, Treatment, and Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic


Coping up with the new normal can be very challenging. Your usual routine won't be ok and cannot be done anymore. Your work, habits, and every bit of your lifestyle are about to change. Well, 6months has passed so I must say some of us already had adapted to the new normal while others are still struggling (like me). As a mother of 3, my worries are just pilling up day after day. Most particularly when it comes to managing our household, homeschooling, and family's health. There's one time that my youngest daughter cried for having a toothache. We can't go out to visit the dentist, of course with the fear of catching the COVID virus along the way. There is even time na gamit-na-gamit  namin 'yong line na "bawal mag-kasakit" That's why I can relate to the challenges a fellow mom "Jenny's Mom" is facing right now.


In case you missed it: Tuberculosis can happen in Children


Continuation of their storyAfter noticing that Jenny is unwell, her mom decided to rush her to the hospital. This happened in April while the whole nation is still combating the COVID19 virus. So, I kinda panicked for them, how are they to go to the nearest hospital with all the issues and difficulties happening around us. Luckily, Jenny's mom was able to get a hold of an ambulance, (Thank you to their mabait at maasahang Mayor!) to take them to a hospital. 


TB Care, Treatment, and Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic
TB Care, Treatment, and Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic


They were admitted and Jenny was confined for almost 6weeks. The first 2 weeks were the critical stage that Jenny was under the Intensive care unit (ICU). After so many test, it was just then, that's when they finally knew that Jenny was diagnosed with TB. Jenny's mom decided to follow their doctor's advice, she was instructed to enroll/apply for TB DOTS.


What is TB DOTS

Tuberculosis Directly Observed Treatment Strategyis said to be the most effective technique for diagnosis, treatment, and care for TB.

Benefits of being enrolled with TB DOTS

  • Consultation
  • Medicines
  • Assessment
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • Diagnosis, 
  • Counseling
  • Support Group

Our conversation went on and on... And I'm curious how are they able to go for treatment in the middle of this pandemic, what are the challenges they faced along the way and how were they able to cope. Below is the flow of our conversation.

Mommy Aci: Nag proceed na kayo agad sa treatment? Ano ginawa nyo after? 

Jenny's Mom: Pina-enroll nila ako sa TB DOTS ng hospital. Tapos nag-start na ang gamutan.


Kinumusta ko naman ang mga ganaps while on treatment si Jenny. Ano-ano ang mga gamot nya at kung may side effects ba? 


Mommy Aci: Ano mga gamot nya momsh? mahal sya if bibilhin diba? pero free if sa NCH?

Jenny's Mom: Yung first 2 months niya, 4 ang gamot niya, pyra, ethambutol, rifampicin at isoniazid. Ngayon,  rifam at isoniazid na lang.

 

Again, those medicines sound familiar, kaya naalala ko yung times na I was dealing with my child Primary complex, yung struggle mag-painom kasi masama na nga yung pakiramdam, may ubo na, may lagnat pa,  Tapos iinom pa ng gamot na yung iba ay di pa nila gusto ang lasa, minsan masusuka pa or minsan tatiming ung ubo matatapon yung gamot. Ang mahal pa naman. So, uulit.


Mommy Aci: Naalala ko yang rifampicin yang ung nagpared sa wiwi ng kid ko grabe nerbyos ko no'n. Kala ko kung ano na. 

Jenny's Mom: Yes, tsaka pati pawis - iba kulay.

Mommy Aci: Tama pa din ba momsh, bawal mag skip ng medicine , dapat na sa oras, bawal makalimot or uulit uli? 

Jenny's Mom: Yes. tsaka kapag isinuka na wala pang at least 30 minutes uulitin. Nakakaawa ang bata tapos hindi pa makakain ng maayos magsusuka pa , Mga 2 months kaming ganyan after makalabas ng hospital

 

TB Care, Treatment, and Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic
TB Care, Treatment, and Challenges during the COVID-19 Pandemic




And then I asked:

Mommy Aci: Nung nasa NCH sya habang treatment, bumuti ba agad lagay nya? 

Jenny's Mom: Yes, kasi nakalabas na siya ng ICU. Ibig sabihin wala na sa critical stage. Pero hanggang sa nakalabas kami iba na talaga yung anak ko. Malaki nagbago sa kanya. 

 

Jenny was confined for 1 month and 2 weeks at National Children's Hospital. Then after that, they continue their TB Care treatment at home. 

Mommy Aci: Paano po ang set up nyo sa bahay sa pag-aalaga kay Jenny? 

Jenny's Mom: Magkatulong kami ng mga anak ko, especially yung panganay.. Understanding naman ang mga kapatid niya na iba kasi puro needs muna ni Jenny bago sa kanila.  Minsan nga kahit sa pagkain iba din kay Jenny kasi mas need niya masusustansya.

Mommy Aci: Momshie, mga ilang weeks or months pa ang treatment nya bago matapos?

Jenny's Mom: Walang sinabi na exact months kung hanggang kailan, isa yun sa itatanong ko sa susunod na check up. Kasi noong nasa hospital kami kapag tintanong ko mga doctors sinasabi lang nila na matagalan nga raw na gamutan. Baka abutin ng taon. 


They go back for follow-up check-ups every month. Also, they visit Urology for Jenny's kidney care. *This is about her recurring UTI mentioned in my previous post.

And I was like: Kailangan pa bumalik balik sa NCH? Malapit lang ba sa inyo yun? di ba mahirap ang byahe papunta kasi quarantine pa? 

her answer, 

Malayo. Nag re-request kami ng ambulance sa barangay. Libre lang sa amin ang ambulance. Sa iba talaga may bayad. Maayos ang Mayor namin eh 

And I was like... Sana All.  Also, I asked what's their safety measures when going out for Jenny's follow up check-up and she said "Naka mask at faceshield tapos always alcohol din"

But not long after that, she was excited to say that starting on September 20, they won't be going out for follow-up check-ups anymore because NCH TB DOTS now offers Telemedicine. 

Online Consultation is what Telemedicine is like. A very much needed service most especially today. This can be beneficial not just for the TB care patients but for everyone seeking medical help at a time of a Pandemic. This will minimize the exposure of the TB Care Patient and the Health Care Specialist to the dreadful Corona Virus. I think it'll be like a virtual consultation at the comforts of your home. A win-win right? 


Mommy Aci: Safe ba to assume na wala talagang gagastusin pag-enrolled sa TB DOTS? Kasi ang gandang balita kung libre nga diba? Kasi parang libo din aabutin ng gamot check-up, atbp. Ang laking tulong nito sa  kung sakali.

Jenny's Mom: Yes, libre siya sa NCH, yan ang pagkakaalam ko. May nagsabi rin sa akin na may allowance pa nga raw na 100 pesos. Kapag enrolled ka sa TB DOTS, libre. 


Sorry fellow momshies, pero seryoso... first-time ko mabalitaan na free and TB DOTS. And I'm super happy knowing all about it. Kasi sa panahon ngayon mahal na lahat, ikaw na lang ang di nya mahal. charot! But on the serious note, mas madaming mahihirap na mamayang Pilipino ang may TB. Ang nakakalungkot baka hindi nila alam na infected na pala sila nito. Kasi kahit simpleng check up nga iniiwasan dahil ang mentality "Gastos nanaman". Pero kung mula check-up, lab test, diagnosis and treatment ay covered, malamang mas madaming magpapatest at mas may pag asa na tayong masupil ang TB dito sa Pilipinas. Napakagandang balita naman talaga kung may ganitong klase tulong hindi ba?   

#TBFreePH

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