Over the past year, about 20 thousand people were diagnosed with tuberculosis in Ukraine, including 835 children.
This was reported by the Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health, Ukrinform reports.
"In 2023, 19,851 people with TV were registered in Ukraine, among them: children aged 0-14 years – 639 people; adolescents aged 15-17 years – 196 people, – the report says.
As the Public Health Center emphasizes, tuberculosis is a curable disease, success depends on the timely initiation of effective medications and the patient’s discipline in following all doctors and taking medication regularly.
Anyone can get tuberculosis, but certain groups of people have a higher risk of developing the disease, namely: people who are in constant contact with a person with tuberculosis; people living with HIV and AIDS patients; people who use drugs, alcohol and tobacco; people with weakened immune systems due to poor diet, poor living conditions or chronic diseases; children, because their immune system is not formed; older people due to their weakened immune system.
Symptoms of tuberculosis are: cough for more than 2 weeks; elevated body temperature for more than 7 days; labored breathing; chest pain; poor appetite, causeless weight loss; constant weakness; increased sweating, especially at night; hemoptysis.
As noted in the CSC, to diagnose tuberculosis, you first need to consult a primary care doctor. The family doctor conducts a screening and interview, assesses the risk of the disease, and, based on the results, if necessary, refers for examination of sputum or other biological material using a molecular genetic system and a radiological examination. If necessary, refer for further examination to a phthisiatrician. The diagnosis is made by a phthisiatrician.
It is noted that the need for fluorography is determined by the family doctor. Patients who have no suspicion of TV and are not included in risk groups do not require an annual fluorographic examination!
The need for additional examination – bronchoscopy, computed tomography, etc. – determined by a phthisiatrician.
Computer tomography for the diagnosis of tuberculosis is free.
Since 2022, Ukraine began to use the BPaL regime – the newest treatment regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis . The duration of treatment when using this regimen is reduced by almost three times: 6-9 months versus 18-24 months. Treatment, depending on the patient's condition, can be outpatient or inpatient. In the first option, a person with tuberculosis receives drugs at the place of treatment. In this case, the patient can be close to his family, in some cases he can continue to work.
As reported, in Ukraine, treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs is free.