Annual Free Tuberculosis Screening for Seniors Aged 65 and Over
Visit Health Center with ID if Cough Persists for More Than 2 Weeks
Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is conducting a ‘free tuberculosis screening’ for seniors aged 65 and older to detect tuberculosis patients early.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of 2023, 57.9% of all tuberculosis patients in South Korea are aged 65 or older. Although the proportion of tuberculosis patients aged 65 and older in our district is relatively low at 47.1%, it has been increasing annually.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by the tuberculosis bacteria and can be a life-threatening illness. In the early stages, symptoms resemble those of a cold, such as coughing and sputum, but as it worsens, symptoms such as weight loss, fever and night sweats, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood) appear.
The district supports free tuberculosis screening once a year for seniors aged 65 and older. If symptoms similar to those mentioned above appear, seniors can visit the Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center with their ID card. The screening is conducted through a chest X-ray, and if infection is suspected, a sputum test is performed. For more details, please contact the Tuberculosis Prevention Office at the Gwangjin-gu Public Health Center.
Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “Early detection of tuberculosis is of utmost importance. Seniors who have not yet undergone tuberculosis screening or who have similar symptoms are encouraged to visit the health center for testing.” He added, “Please be careful of colds in the suddenly chilly weather and take good care of your health.”
Meanwhile, to prevent tuberculosis, it is important to follow daily preventive measures such as ▲wearing a mask ▲covering your mouth with tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing ▲building physical strength through regular exercise and balanced nutrition ▲and getting tuberculosis screening regardless of symptoms if you have been in contact with a tuberculosis patient.
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