AN APPROACH TO TUBERCULOSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PRIMARY CARE

Abstract

In the second half of the 20th century, especially after 1980, there was a significant increase in tuberculosis cases worldwide. The increase in poverty, uncontrolled urbanization and the spread of the HIV virus may be important causal factors for this epidemiological increase. Since then, several national and global organizations have been involved in finding criteria to treat these patients in the most humane way possible. Research into the etiological agent of the disease, combined with investment in the pharmaceutical industry, prevented the increase in mortality from taking an even more exponential curve over the years. However, the risks of illness for patients with this infection range from individual characteristics to home and community culture. From this perspective, the healthcare team must be prepared to welcome and guide the patient throughout the treatment. Therefore, this narrative literature review brought together articles from the main databases aiming to highlight the profile of patients with tuberculosis who can be treated in primary care, in addition to elucidating the pillars established by strategies to eradicate the disease.