This is one of a series of flipcharts on these topics : Ante Natal Care, Post Natal Care, Child Health, Child Nutrition, Family Spacing, HIV&AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria Tuberculosis

About the flipchart set This kit comprises a series of 8 flipcharts designed to assist health workers in creating awareness and generating discussion on various health issues among community members. Issues addressed in the 8 flipcharts include: Safe Motherhood: Antenatal Care; Postnatal Care, Family Spacing, Child Nutrition amd Growth, Child Health, Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Each flipchart has a series of pictures that help the facilitator initiate a discussion on the issue. Key points that need to be discussed with each image are given on the corresponding page for the facilitators reference along with a thumbnail image of the picture. How to use flip charts Hold the flip chart with both hands carefully. Ensure that the illustrations face the group. Take care that your hands do not hide the illustrations. When the illustrations are facing the group, the facilitator will be able to see the text (key points) relevant to the illustrations that need to be addressed at this stage. Use your finger to point out and draw attention to specific aspects of the illustrations. This will help the group to concentrate. 1

This flipchart addresses Tuberculosis. Introduction Tuberculosis, better known as TB, is an infectious disease and it is estimated that there are about 14 million TB cases in India with 1000 patients dying everyday. It is caused by a bacteria and though normally TB affects the lungs; it can also affect the brain, back, knees, bones and some other organs. Activity Instructions There are three sets of pictures in this flipchart, which give an idea of the consequences of various actions. Discuss the pictures and the consequences of the various actions shown in the pictures. Pictures 1 to 4 show an infected woman who does not get treated, is abandoned and dies. Pictures 5 and 6 show an infected man who seeks proper treatment, but does not complete his course of medicines. He therefore remains sick. Pictures 7 and 8 show an infected man who completes his treatment and recovers fully. Discussion Points How are TB patients treated in your area? Why are TB patients abandoned? What is the risk of not completing TB treatment? Key Message TB is a disease which spreads through air. Anyone can get TB irrespective of socio-economic status. Treatment for TB exists and we should not discriminate against persons with TB. 2

Person with symptoms of TB The common symptoms of TB are: Cough for three weeks or more, sometimes with bloodstreaked sputum. Fever especially at night. Loss of body weight. Loss of appetite. An unhygienic environment and smoking can aggravate TB. This symbol indicates risk. 3

TB Infected person transmits infection to someone living close TB is spread by breathing the air that someone suffering from TB has coughed but it requires several such exposures for one to get infected. One is more likely to get TB by living with an untreated patient in the same room. Infection with TB germs does not denote disease. Almost 50% of Indians have TB germs inside, whereas about 14 million people in India have the disease as such. A single infected untreated person can spread the disease to 10-15 individuals. This symbol indicates risk. 4

Person with TB abandoned Sometimes a short period of isolation may be necesssary for the TB patient. However TB is not infectious once it has been treated for two months. Yet very often because of the stigma attached to TB, people abandon TB patients and this has serious consequences. This symbol indicates harmful practice. 5

Person dies Without treatment TB can be fatal. 6

Person visits doctor gets diagnosis Diagnosis and supply of anti-tb drugs for full course of treatment are available free of cost to patients in hospitals and clinics run by Govt. and NGOs. Diagnosis is made through quality sputum microscopy, by examining three sputum samples of the chest symptomatics. 7

Person doesn t complete course of medicines and remains sick. Though the patient may feel better after 2/3 months of treatment, it should be continued for the full period. Often the TB patient thinks he or she is cured, and neglects to have the full course of medicines. This is a very dangerous practice that usually results in complicated drug resistant disease. An untreated patient may infect 10-15 persons. This symbol indicates harmful practice. 8

Person taking medicines under supervision from DOTS provider and completing course of medicines. Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course is known as DOTS and it is the only proven strategy for effective control of TB on a mass basis. TB is treated for a period of six to eight months. Some types of TB may require treatment of longer duration. Proper and complete treatment can completely cure the person. 9

Person recovers. Is healthy, eating nutritious food in a hygienic environment By taking nutritious food and by observing the basic principles of cleanliness and personal hygiene, one can build one s resistance power. When the resistance is good, it will not be easy for the invaded bacteria to survive. This is the only thing that can be done as a precautionary measure. 10

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