Rastreio e treinamento uma abordagem inovadora na detecção de tuberculose e ILTB: uma intervenção do estágio supervisionado em uma cidade do interior do Ceará

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis is classified as an infectious and contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Koch's bacillus. Brazil ranks 19th in the number of cases, primarily affecting the lungs but capable of compromising other organs and systems. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is defined as the incubation phase of tuberculosis, where individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a person with tuberculosis (TB) in forms (pulmonary and laryngeal) do not exhibit active disease manifestations. Objective: To report on the importance of screening and addressing tuberculosis and LTBI, promoting a reduction in these pathologies within the community. Methodology: This is a descriptive study, a type of experience report conducted during May 2023 at the São Vicente de Paula Primary Health Care Unit (UAPS), located at 377 Francisco Maciel Street, Centro, Icó – CE. The experience arose from Supervised Internship I focused on primary care, allowing the academic community to address the increasing incidence of tuberculosis and LTBI in the unit. In response to this rising trend, strategies were devised and implemented by a group of academic students, together with the unit's nurse and external preceptor nurse, to mitigate these increases through education on prevention, detection, and health promotion. The methodology involved training Community Health Agents (CHAs) at the unit to conduct active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection searches in their microareas. Additionally, educational sessions were provided to clients waiting for service in the unit's waiting room, offering guidance on TB and LTBI in collaboration with the unit nurse. Results and Discussions: Following the training on tuberculosis and LTBI with CHAs at the UAPS, there was notable interest among participants in learning more about how tuberculosis manifests. It was observed that CHAs previously mistook tuberculosis symptoms for those of a common cold. This highlighted the significance of the training for participants, as it identified their difficulties and improved their ability to actively search for individuals suspected of tuberculosis in their microareas during home visits. The interactive and dynamic approach used, including the creation of informative folders, enhanced understanding of the addressed pathology and facilitated meaningful exchanges among participants, contributing to their professional development. Conclusion: This experience underscored the importance of a multiprofessional approach in health promotion through screening and training, strengthening prevention efforts, enhancing community knowledge, and fostering self-care among individuals. This initiative aimed to empower community members to become active participants in health knowledge and practices.