Tuberculosis - World TB day - 5 days to go

XDR - TB Explained


HIV/TB in India: a public health challenge.

Pathni AK, Chauhan LS.

The impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic on the epidemiology of TB worldwide is being noted with growing concern. Patients with HIV are more susceptible to opportunistic diseases including TB. The risk of development of TB in HIV-infected patients in India is 6.9/100 person-years compared to a 10% lifetime risk of developing TB in an HIV negative individual with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Treatment with DOTS significantly prolongs the life of HIV-infected persons with TB. The Government of India emphasised the need for strengthening collaboration between TB and AIDS control programmes for better management of HIV-infected patients with TB. Areas with higher prevalence of HIV infection have been prioritised the RNTCP coverage and most are already implementing the RNTCP. The basic purpose of HIV-TB programme co-ordination is to ensure optimal synergy between the two programmes for prevention and control of both the diseases.