Despite the 22% reduction, Acre is still among the states with the highest tuberculosis rate in the country

Based on data obtained by the Acre State Department of Health (Sesacre), 632 new cases of tuberculosis were registered in Acre in 2023, equivalent to 22% less than in 2022. Despite this, it remains among the states with the highest The country’s tuberculosis incidence rate is second only to Roraima, Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro.

The disease is caused by a bacteria that mainly attacks the lungs, it can also affect other parts of the body, such as bones and kidneys. It is important to highlight that this contagious disease still affects at least 80 thousand people per year in Brazil, from children to the elderly.

“Tuberculosis still remains a public health problem worldwide. So, these campaigns serve to raise awareness among the population and show that they should seek out the health unit, and that tuberculosis treatment lasts at least six months – it is free through the SUS – and this medication is available in all basic units. of health”, says the coordinator of the State Center for Surveillance of Communicable Diseases at Sesacre, Elcenira fazis.

If you have a cough for more than three weeks, whether or not accompanied by night fever, night sweats, lack of appetite, weight loss, tiredness or chest pain, it could be tuberculosis. “You start with a little cough and mask it by drinking syrup or even tea. Look for the basic unit, as all professionals in the network are qualified to refer this patient to the surveillance room. After this, patients are advised to take a sputum test and are referred to Lacen/AC, in order to diagnose tuberculosis”, says Farias.

The coordinator reinforces the importance of early diagnosis to cure the disease, and explains how contagion can occur. “From person to person, through speech, coughing or sneezing. If I’m in a ventilated place, with lots of light, I’m preventing it, but if I’m in a closed place, without lighting, I become a strong candidate for catching tuberculosis,” she says.

The Bacillus Calmette and Guérin (BCG) vaccine, recommended from one year of age, also protects children against the most serious forms of the disease. The treatment lasts at least six months and is available at any health unit in the Unified Health System (SUS).

Video article produced by reporter Wanessa Souza for TV Gazeta

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