When TB Attacks

A few months ago, one of the house-helps got diagnosed with tuberculosis. He had been coughing a lot at work, so he decided to go to the local baranggay health clinic to have a physical check-up. The doctors found out that he had been infected with the bacteria that causes TB, but the sickness has not fully manifested yet. He was instructed to drink a set of antibiotics for the next six months, just to be sure that the bacteria would go away.

Jen and I panicked when we learned about the diagnosis. This helper is part of is part of our yaya's social circle within the compound. She brings the kids with her to hang out with her friends, including the guy who has TB. So there was the possibility that our children might be infected.

And our fears turned out to be true. Both of them had preliminary symptoms of tuberculosis, based on the x-ray results and the skin tests. The good news is that their TB is not contagious. We also had ourselves and the yaya checked, just in case any of us got the bacteria. Fortunately all the adults are healthy.

The pediatrician prescribed a set of three anti-TB syrups for the kids to drink for the next six months. This means we have to find creative ways to have them take in the horrible-tasting medicine, without them throwing up or spitting it out.

So far we've tried bribing them with chips and lollipops. It would take us up to an hour, trying to convince the kids to take their medicine. They have been drinking the medicine just just three weeks and we are running out of ideas. The two kids are getting more rebellious and they would throw bigger tantrums when they see us holding the familiar-looking syrup.

I just hope they'd recover fast and maybe the doctor might decide to shorten the dosage period from six months or less than three.