Don't Ignore Prolonged Cough During Holidays

Illustration - Coughing disorders that last for more than two weeks during the Nataru holiday must be watched out for. (Pexels)

JAKARTA - Health experts who are also the Director of Communicable Diseases of the WHO Regional Office for Southeast Asia 2018-2020 Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama reminded the public during the new year holidays not to ignore complaints of coughing for two weeks or more.

"If there are complaints of prolonged coughing, use a mask when in public places, especially during holidays full of people, and if you do cough for two or three weeks or more, immediately see a health worker," said Tjandra when contacted in Jakarta, Friday.

According to him, coughing for two weeks or more and not improving even though it has been treated with ordinary cough medicine can be a sign of tuberculosis (TB). Usually, TB cough is accompanied by thick yellow or green sputum, sometimes mixed with blood and accompanied by other symptoms, such as weight loss and night sweats.

Early examination of TB symptoms, including coughing, allows patients to get the right treatment and prevent the spread of the disease.

Then, if the results of the examination show that someone is positive for TB, then he is required to take medication regularly to recover and not become drug-resistant.

"For TB patients, remember to always take medication every day regularly, even in the middle of the holiday season, like now," said Tjandra.

Meanwhile, during the Christmas and New Year holidays, the DKI Jakarta Health Office activated a number of health services, namely 44 health centers and 31 Regional General Hospitals (RSUD) for residents in need.

In addition to the RSUD and Puskesmas, the DKI Health Office also opened health service posts at stations, terminals, airports, ports, and tourist attractions during the year-end holidays.

The health post serves examinations which are part of the Free Health Check (CKG) program for passengers and the community, which includes a number of self-screening, namely mental, tuberculosis, smoking activity, and physical activity.

Then, there is also a screening of nutritional status (weight, height, and waist circumference), blood pressure, blood sugar at the time, educational counseling, and anamnesis of COPD and lung cancer.