subject: Hiv And Tb Two Acronyms That We Dread [print this page] One of the two most common conditions that affects people living in Africa is Turbeculosis (TB)and the other is Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). These two conditions are often related. This article is going to take a look at TB and how HIV weakens a person's defences to it.
The pathogen which causes TB is airborne. This means that you can contract the pathogen simply by breathing the same air as an infected individual. However, exposure to the pathogen does not necessarily mean that you will show the symptoms of the condition. It is possible that you immune system will be able to combat the infection and send the pathogen into a latent state. The pathogen remains in your system, encapsulated and inactive, but you do not get ill. The pathogen will need to be reactivated through the deterioration of the immune system.
This is where HIV factors in. This virus is spread through the transfer of blood and specific other bodily fluids (e.g. blood) from one person to another. This means that those who are promiscuous or share needles with other people or are exposed to the bodily fluids of others on a regular basis are at risk for contracting this disease. The virus attacks and causes the deterioration of the immune system. Once the immune system has deteriorated sufficiently the TB pathogen is able to activate and start multiplying, causing a noticeable infection. The time period required for the deterioration of the immune system to allow the TB pathogen to activate varies from person to person.
The TB pathogen typically affects the lungs but has also been known to affect the kidneys, brain and spine. It can be combated through the use of medication however, it is important that the full course of medication is completed in exact compliance with the instructions provided by the medical practitioner prescribing the treatment. Failure to do so will render the pathogen inactive for a short period of time after which the disease will reappear. It is possible that the remaining pathogens will become resistant to the medications previously used and treatment becomes that much more difficult for the original patient as well as any other individuals they may infect with the drug resistant pathogen.
The sooner you are able to detect an HIV infection, and its potentially co-morbid TB infection, the better. Starting treatment sooner rather than later improves your chances of living longer and surviving the TB infection. Make sure that you regularly get tested for HIV if you are at risk or think you may have been exposed to the virus at some point. If you already know that you are HIV positive, and start to show the symptoms of TB, make sure that you get tested for that condition and start treatment for TB as soon as possible. Failure to do so could be disastrous as TB has a high mortality rate if it goes untreated.
