"Dallas County Health and Human Services encourages tuberculosis testing By Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) Jun 17, 2007
Email this article Print this page
Dallas -- Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) encouages individuals who are HIV positive, who have a history of substance abuse, who are or have been homeless, who have a history of imprisonment, or persons from Latin America, Asia or Africa who have been in the United States for less that four years to include tuberculosis testing as a part of their annual health check.
“As a major metropolitan area Dallas County offers services in the fight against tuberculossis,” DCHHS Director Zachary Thompson said. “TB testing is an important health measure for high risk individuals to consider.”
DCHHS Tuberculosis Elimination Division has many services available to the public and to the health care profession. Among them are consultation and information to health professionals on TB related matters, medication therapy through the direct observed therapy (DOT), delivery of Direct Observed Preventive Therapy (DOPT) to school age children in a collaborative effort with area school districts, case management of TB cases, referrals to other agencies or providers when appropriate, disease surveillance and investigation, and complete evaluation and treatment for tuberculosis infection or disease upon referral from other health care providers.
“About 95 percent of the TB patients in Dallas County are treated and cared for by DCHHS staff,” said Dr. Garry Woo, DCHHS Medical Director for the TB Elimination program. “TB Outreach Workers directly observe patients taking their medications to ensure that the patient follows treatment guidelines and to observe any side effects that may occur.”
In recent years, DCHHS has expanded its TB detection network. TB staff regularly visit homeless shelters to test the homeless population for TB. TB staff also works with Parkland Hospital and other service providers to provide health and TB screenings and immunizations for newly arrived refugees in Dallas County.
In August 2006, the DCHHS Public Health Laboratory initiated Quantiferon testing, a sensitive and accurate blood test used in lieu of the Tuberculosis (TB) skin test to screen patients for TB infection.
Quantiferon testing increases DCHHS’ ability to diagnose and treat TB infection by eliminating the need for two visits required by traditional skin tests. Test results are available in 24 hours.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, persons with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment.
The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected. If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor or DCHHS to be tested. Last year Dallas County had 244 new TB cases.
DCHHS’ TB Prevention Program offers Quantiferon testing (Monday – Thursday) and PPD skin testing each weekday (except Thursday) from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at its main building, 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway.
Chest x-rays are also available weekdays by appointment only. For more information on the DCHHS TB Prevention Program, call 214-819-2071 or visit www.dallascounty.org.
CST Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
