DELAY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS THE POINTS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE AS PUBLIC HEALTH (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is the most frequent and relevant form in Brazilian public health as it has a higher transmission rate. Currently, it is still difficult to reduce the incidence of TB in the public health sphere, this situation becomes even more alarming when the diagnosis is made late, when the disease is already serious, resulting in greater mortality and perpetuation of the chain transmission. Knowledge of the factors associated with delay in diagnosis can be important to identify possible strategies to reduce it. Objective: To report the case of a patient who, despite having a classic clinical picture of pulmonary TB, had her diagnosis correct late. Methodology: This is a case report with an observational and descriptive study. Case report: Female patient sought care from a pulmonologist due to persistence of clinical symptoms and erroneous diagnoses and treatments. She was later diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Discussion: TB's main causative agent is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is transmitted directly by aerosols when talking, sneezing or coughing. Symptoms of the infection include afternoon fever, cough, night sweats, weakness and weight loss, but the patient rarely seeks a healthcare facility at the onset of symptoms, which are attributed to a poorly cured flu, smoking bronchitis or another clinical situation. The delay in diagnosis is related to public health services and the patient themselves. Another associated barrier is the low degree of suspicion by health professionals and low adherence by professionals to TB control programs. Final considerations: The reported case raises the question of how we can improve the understanding of this very prevalent disease, considering that the patient had a classic clinical picture of pulmonary tuberculosis and the hypothesis was not even raised in three different consultations in the public health network.