PBL+Case+I+Tuberculosis

PBL Case I – Tuberculosis

Ram a daily wage laborer by occupation was having cough on and off since last one month. Last time he had similar complaints it cost him thousands of rupees to get himself treated. He even had to sell his only goat for the treatment purpose. He had stopped his treatment after 3 months as he did not have money to continue the treatment and also he felt better. Ram now was really worried as to what he should do as he did not have the money to go to the same doctor again. He shared his concern with his friend who informed him that he should speak to the ASHA of the village. ASHA escorted him to the PHC where his sputum was checked and he was started on treatment. Ram was really happy to know that the entire treatment will be free and also for the treatment he need not go outside his own village. But he will have to visit the PHC in between to get his sputum checked to know whether the treatment, which he will be receiving, is effective or not. The doctor at PHC informed him that he will need to take treatment for 8 months and also advised him not to stop treatment for any reason without consulting him. The doctor informed him regarding the common side effects, which he might have because of the medications. The doctor explained to him that he should take care that the disease does not get transmitted to his wife and children because of him. Ram was also referred for doing HIV testing to the district hospital. His children and wife were also referred to the district hospital to ensure that they had not contracted tuberculosis so that even there treatment could be started if needed. His children were prescribed a syrup to prevent them getting tuberculosis **References –**
 * Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine. 20th edition.
 * Textbook of Public Health and Community Medicine; AFMC, Pune. 1st edition
 * RNTCP training module for medical practioners available from []