A public health expert, Mr Opeyemi Fasonu, has urged Nigerians on the need for early diagnosis and treatment of resistant cough, saying it could be tuberculosis.
Fasonu, who is the Ondo State Technical Assistant of Damien Foundation, stated this in an interview on Tuesday in Akure.
The Damien Foundation is a medical development Non-governmental Organisation that focuses on combating tuberculosis, leprosy and other infectious diseases with a mission to ensure affected individuals regain their place in the society.
He explained that tuberculosis is transmitted through airborne particles when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, stressing that people needed to be sensitised on symptoms to look out for in suspected cases.
Fasonu urged residents to seek medical attention if they experience persistent coughs, chest pain, weakness, weight loss, night sweats, and other TB symptoms.
According to him, in Ondo State, a study reported TB prevalence of 16.1 per cent, with variations across different senatorial districts with an incidence rate 119 of 100,000.
He gave common risk factors to include; weakened immune systems due to conditions like HIV, malnutrition, diabetes, smoking, and living or working in crowded environment.
“The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is currently the only available TB vaccine. It offers protection against severe forms of TB in children but is less effective in preventing pulmonary TB in adults.
“New vaccines are under development, with some candidates in advanced clinical trials showing about 50 per cent efficacy in preventing active TB disease,
“The study conducted in Ondo State reported a tuberculosis (TB) prevalence rate of 16.1 per cent, indicating that a significant portion of the population in the state is affected by TB.
“The figure suggests that tuberculosis remains a serious public health issue in the region. Additionally, the study found variations in the TB prevalence across different senatorial districts within Ondo State.
“The incidence rate of 119 cases per 100,000 individuals means that for every 100,000 people in the population, 119 new cases of Tuberculosis are being identified annually.
“This figure serves as an important indicator for public health authorities to assess the burden of Tuberculosis in the area, and it can be used to compare the situation in Ondo State with other regions or national averages.
”The relatively high incidence rate suggests that there may be gaps in Tuberculosis detection, treatment, and prevention, which could be contributing to the continued spread of the disease in the state,” he said.
Fasonu urged people to always live a healthy life style and exercise regularly to boost their immune system.
NAN
