Tuberculosis, a bacterial infection that attacks the lungs, and HIV, a virus that compromises the human immune system, might not seem similar or even related. Nevertheless, despite being so different, these two conditions often end up working together.
But what causes these two conditions, and why is this co-infection so common?
Pieces of a Puzzle
HIV, or Human immunodeficiency virus, is a disease which compromises the immune system. This puts patients at a higher risk of contracting other illnesses, which can make everything from TB to the common cold a dangerous prospect. This weakness of the immune system puts patients at a much higher risk of contracting TB, and makes it much more difficult to recover from.
Individuals who are infected with HIV are between 21 and 34 times more likely to develop an active tuberculosis infection. Individuals who have an inactive TB infection, where the bacteria is still in their bodies but does not cause symptoms and cannot be passed to other people, can develop active infections if their immune system is weakened by HIV.
Difficult to Diagnose
Individuals with an HIV and TB co-infection often find their TB symptoms going untreated because it is so much harder to diagnose in patients with compromised immune systems. Additionally, the infection spreads much faster than it might in individuals with stronger immune systems, and is more likely to become fatal if left untreated.
Co-infections account for up to one-quarter of the TB-related deaths every year in the United States.
Once a diagnosis is made, the challenge becomes treating the infection. In addition to the antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) that are used to combat the effects of HIV, patients have to take a cocktail of antibiotics for anywhere from six months to two years to eliminate the TB infection and reduce the chance of the infection returning or becoming drug-resistant. Unfortunately, the TB treatment can reduce the effectiveness of the lifesaving ARVs, so new treatments are essential to increase the survivability of this co-infection.
An Ounce of Prevention…
While there are treatment options for an HIV and TB co-infection, the easiest and most effective way to protect yourself is to take any steps necessary to prevent infection.
This includes avoiding areas where you may be exposed to TB, such as clinics, hospitals, or homeless shelters. If avoiding these areas is not an option due to work or travel, take precautions such as wearing a face mask to prevent you from inhaling airborne particles.
If you think you’ve been exposed to TB, it’s important to speak to a medical professional as soon as possible. There are some preventative medications that can be taken to prevent a latent TB infection from becoming an active one, but your doctor will first need to confirm that there’s no current active infection going on.
While TB is not a problem that most of us expect to face in our lifetimes, it’s still a very real threat to anyone with a compromised immune system, whether it’s caused by viruses like HIV or immunodeficiency diseases. The best way to protect yourself is to prevent infection, but if you are worried that you’ve been exposed to TB, make sure you make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.