Homepage | Data |
Topics |
Resources |
About PAHO
These guidelines were prepared by the technical divisions
of the Pan American Health Organization.
For more information please contact
us
Control of Tuberculosis in Disaster Situations
On many occasions, when a disaster strikes a primary health
care service, it loses control over tuberculosis and the cases can migrate.
Under those circumstances, the most important thing is to continue the treatment
of those in temporary shelters and establish a monitoring system over those
that have shown respiratory problems of the disease for over three weeks. Those
who persist with respiratory symptoms should have a smear analysis done and
the treatment should immediately start for the positive cases.
Keeping a stock of first line medicine is necessary. A nurse,
nurse auxiliary or other health professional should manage this stock in the
shelter.
Taking into consideration that tuberculosis is a chronic infectious
disease, no special activities are recommended to control it in disaster situation.
However, in temporary shelters or camps which remain for a long periods following
the emergency, it is necessary to take into account the following risk factors:
- Population displacements are common in disaster situations, and this can
create problems in treating and monitoring patients with TB.
- Population migration in the aftermath of disasters makes it common for persons
from areas where the prevalence of TB differs, to come into contact with each
other.
- Overcrowding is common in shelters and temporary settlements. A patient
that is sputum smear positive and that is not controlled can become an active
source of transmission.
Recommendations:
- Include, in the census data of the displaced population, information on
acute and chronic pathologies, including TB.
- Identify persons who are symptomatic who are coughing or expectorating
for more than two weeks
- Order, for all persons who are symptomatic, a series of sputum smear exams
and send samples to the laboratory of the health center with responsibility
for the shelter.
- Ensure strictly controlled, quick treatment for all cases of TB, and coordinate
the provision of medications with the closest health center.
- If the case of TB was discovered in the shelter, control all contact with
uninfected persons.
- Si el paciente presenta mal estado general de salud o sufre de complicaciones
graves, referirlo al hospital de su influencia.
- If the patient is in poor general health or suffers severe complications,
refer them to a hospital.
- Neither special exams nor isolation is recommended for infected persons.
However, it is recommended that controls are established in the shelter.
