A person with HIV may be more at risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). This is due to the weakening of the immune system that occurs in someone who has HIV.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that can spread through the air. TB typically affects the lungs, but it can spread to other parts of the body.

HIV is a virus that can spread from person to person through bodily fluids, causing a weakening of the immune system. A weakened immune system may increase the risk of TB infection.

Read on to learn about the link between HIV and TB. This article also looks at symptoms of TB, when an individual with HIV should get a TB test, TB treatments for someone with HIV, and more.

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A person can contract TB when they inhale the TB bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The TB bacteria can then settle in the lungs. It may spread to other parts of the body, including the spine, kidneys, and brain.

When an individual has HIV, the immune system becomes weaker. This can make the body less able to fight off infections and bacteria such as TB.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), TB is an opportunistic infection (OI). This means that it is more common and more severe in people with weakened immune systems.

Therefore, a person with HIV may be more likely to develop TB and have more severe symptoms than a someone without HIV.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an individual with HIV may be 20 times more likely to develop TB. The WHO also reports that TB is the leading cause of death in people with HIV worldwide.

Learn more about how HIV affects the body.

TB typically affects the lungs but can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms can include:

Symptoms of TB may be more severe in people with HIV.

If someone with HIV experiences symptoms of TB, it is important to seek medical advice as early as possible.

Learn more about TB symptoms.

According to the NIH, a person with HIV should receive TB testing and screening.

A healthcare professional may need to carry out further tests if an individual appears to have the TB bacteria in the blood but it is not yet active. Healthcare professionals call this latent TB infection.

The WHO also recommends that medical professionals routinely offer TB screening for people with HIV.

Learn about TB blood tests.

Medications for TB in a person with HIV is typically the same as when someone does not have HIV.

However, there may be factors a healthcare professional has to consider when prescribing TB medication to a person with HIV, as it is possible the two treatments can interact and cause further issues.

TB treatment may also require adjustment depending on whether an individual has already started HIV treatment or has developed any resistance to medications.

The type of medication and the duration of treatment can depend on whether a person has latent TB or active TB, as well as whether they experience medication resistance.

Examples of medications for HIV include:

  • isoniazid
  • rifampin
  • pyrazinamide
  • ethambutol

Treatment can last for a number of months, but this will depend on the specific drugs a doctor recommends. An individual’s doctor can provide them with more accurate information about what they can expect from treatment.

A 2022 study suggests that 91% of people with HIV and TB will live for at least 5 months after starting treatment for TB.

It also found that 88% of people will live for at least 15 months, and 85% for at least 25 months.

Another 2022 study suggests that approximately 55.7% of people with HIV and TB will survive for at least 12 years.

As HIV causes a weakened immune system, a person with HIV may be around 20 times more likely to catch TB. TB is also the leading cause of death in people with HIV.

TB symptoms may be more severe in an individual with HIV. Examples of symptoms include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, breathlessness, fever, fatigue, chest pain, and loss of appetite.

Someone with HIV should receive regular testing and screening for TB. If they have latent TB infection or active TB, a doctor will recommend medications. Treatment usually lasts a number of months.