HIV and TB - the interconnection between the two. Why are people with HIV more likely to get TB? Why are there so many cases of TB now? What are the symptoms of TB?

1. HIV and TB

2. Symptoms of TB (Tuberculosis)
Ongoing cough for more than
two weeks
 chest pain
night sweats and
 weight loss.

3. How is it spread?
By someone breathing or
coughing on you.

4. HIV infection increases risk of
active TB
 TB is the most common, serious and life
threatening opportunistic infection in
people with HIV/AIDS in Africa.
 Opportunistic = infection of the body as a
result of weakened immune system. In
other words a sickness which can easily
come in to your body because you are
already weak.

5. Since the beginning of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic there has
been a steady increase in the
number of new TB cases.
In some countries the TB
epidemic has doubled (2 times
more) or tripled (3 times more)
in size.

6. Approximately 50-60% (more
than half) of people with HIV
infection will develop active TB.
This means there is a ten times
increased risk of developing TB if
a person is HIV+.

7. A patient with TB is also very
likely to be HIV+.
Therefore it is very important
to be tested for HIV if you
have TB.

8.  If you are HIV + your immune
system is weakened therefore you
are more likely to catch TB due to
either:
 An old TB infection coming back
again.
 OR
 New TB infection.

9.  HIV and TB make each other worse
and more life threatening.
 Untreated TB patient who has HIV
may be worse and usually more
severe than in HIV negative person
who has TB.
 TB can also speed up HIV to AIDS
because:
 TB can result in a lowering of CD4
count.

10. TB can occur earlier in the
HIV disease process than
other life threatening
opportunistic infections. TB
is not unusual at CD4 levels
of 350.

11. Benefits of knowing your status if
you have TB
Risks are higher with TB when
you are HIV+
You may need to see the doctor
for more check ups
You are more likely to have TB
again so you need to see the
doctor more often.

12. Sexual partners may be HIV+ and
therefore more likely to catch TB
from you.
By receiving treatment for HIV
you are less likely to catch TB
again.
Your health can benefit from
receiving proper HIV care and
support.

13. If you are HIV + you should
be on the lookout for signs of
TB
Ongoing cough, chest pain,
night sweats and weight loss.

14. TB does not always show up in
HIV + people in normal tests.
So treatment for TB may need
to be started even before
positive TB result if there are
symptoms. So make sure you
get regular check ups.

15. TB can infect:
Lungs
Brain
Spine
Anywhere in the body!
So please take it seriously!

16. Medication
 If you have tested positive for TB you
must keep taking your medication
every day as long as the doctor tells
you – usually six months. Even when
you feel better you must finish the
course of treatment or TB will come
back even stronger.

17. Remember!
TB can be cured.
You just need to be faithful to
take your medication.

18. If you are not faithful to take
your medication
Then you may get MDR TB
Multi Drug Resistant TB which
may not respond to the
medication which means it is
difficult to cure the TB and you
may die.

19. The Treatment for MDR TB
Is often long and difficult and
with many possible side effects
which is why it is very
important you do not default
on your treatment for TB and
put yourself at risk of catching
MDR TB.

20. Also be aware that…
If one person in the family
has been diagnosed with TB
the whole family will need
to be tested and possibly
put on the TB treatment.

21. Questions for you
 1. Why are you more likely to get TB
if you are HIV+?
 A) because you live in a squatter
camp.
 B) because your immune system is
weak
 C) because you get it when you go to
the clinic.

22.  2. How much more likely are you
to get TB if you have HIV?
A) 2 times
B) 10 times
C) 100 times

23. 3. True or False
TB can be cured
4. True or false
HIV can be cured

24. 5. True or False
 TB can be caught through
someone breathing or coughing
on you.
6. True or False
HIV can be caught by someone
breathing or coughing on you.

25.  7. If you do not faithfully take your
TB medicine, what will happen?
 A) Nothing
 B) You will just get a little sick but it
is not really a problem.
 C) You may get multi drug resistant
TB

26.  8) You can have TB in which parts of
your body?
 A) Just your lungs
 B) Just your brain
 C) Any part of your body

27.  9. What are the symptoms of TB? (Write
down 3 of the following)
 A) cough lasting two weeks or more
 B) Spots
 C) Sweating a lot at night
 D) Putting on weight
 E) Losing weight

28. 10. True or False.
As soon as you feel better you
can stop taking the
medication.

29. Answers
 1. Why are you more likely to get TB
if you are HIV+
 B) because your immune system is
weak

30.  2. How much more likely are you
to get TB if you have HIV?
B) 10 times

31. 3. True
TB can be cured
4. False
HIV can be cured

32. 5. True
 TB can be caught through
someone breathing or coughing
on you.
6. False
HIV can be caught by someone
breathing or coughing on you.

33. 7. If you do not faithfully take
your TB medicine, what will
happen?
C) You may get multi drug
resistant TB

34. 8) You can have TB in which
parts of your body?
C) Any part of your body

35.  9. What are the symptoms of TB?
 A) cough lasting two weeks or more
 C) Sweating a lot at night
 E) Losing weight

36. 10. False.
As soon as you feel better you
can stop taking the
medication.

37. Thank you!
For taking part in this class.
You are on your way to
becoming a Health
Champion!