Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV
WHAT IS TB?
This past month, WOPLAH has been focusing on learning more about TB as well as how the disease affects people living with HIV. There are two TB-related conditions: latent TB infection and TB disease. Latent TB infection is when TB bacteria exists in the human body without making the individual sick, as the body is able to fight the bacteria off. As a result, people with latent TB infection cannot spread TB bacteria to others and do not experience symptoms. If the latent TB infection is not treated, however, it may develop into TB disease. TB disease results from active TB bacteria when the immune system can no longer fight it off. People with TB disease experience symptoms such as chest pain, bad cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, chills, fever, and can easily spread the TB bacteria to others. TB bacteria are spread through the air when a person with TB disease within the lungs or throat coughs or speaks, and people who are close and breathe in the bacteria can become infected.
HOW TB AFFECTS PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV
People living with HIV are at a greater risk than others of becoming sick with TB. According to the CDC, TB is one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV. Additionally, a person living with both HIV infection and TB disease has an AIDS-defining condition. People living with HIV are more likely to develop TB disease because HIV weakens the immune system, allowing the TB bacteria to become active and spread to other parts of the body.
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF TB MEDICATION
TB medication for both latent TB infection and TB disease can have many side effects: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, numbness and tingling of hands and feet, fatigue, fever, abdominal tenderness, bruising or bleeding easily, and blurred vision. Additionally, patients who take rifampin or rifapentine may notice an orange discoloration of urine.
HOW TO PREVENT TB
As TB is an airborne infection, it can be prevented through good ventilation (otherwise the bacteria can remain in the air for several hours). To prevent the spread of TB bacteria, covering one's mouth when coughing or sneezing and wearing a mask can reduce the amount of airborne bacteria particles.
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