TB and HIV infection

Why is TB and HIV infection dangerous?

HIV is a virus that weakens the cells in the immune system required to fight TB infection. A person who has TB and HIV infection is at a very high risk of TB infection progressing to TB disease. Adults with TB infection have about a 10 % chance of developing TB disease in their lifetime. Adults with TB and HIV infection have a 10 % risk of developing TB disease every year. TB infection also makes HIV infection progress to AIDS faster.

Because their immune system is weak, people with TB and HIV infection may not respond to TB skin tests and their chest x-ray may look normal even if they have TB disease. A person with HIV infection is more likely to develop TB outside the lungs. TB disease may spread from the lungs to the lymph nodes or even to the brain. The symptoms may not be typical, delaying the diagnosis of TB disease and the treatment of TB disease.

Is there hope?

People with TB and HIV infection need to know about both diseases as soon as possible. They also need to be seen by an doctor who is an expert in this area to find out if they have TB disease. Treatment of TB infection and treatment of TB disease by an expert could save their life!

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[Tuberculosis FACT SHEET - Index]