Co-infection: HIV and TB

TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV worldwide. With the world's highest rate of HIV/AIDS infections and a growing TB epidemic, South Africa's people are at the epicenter of a crisis.

HIV attacks the body's immune system by disabling and killing CD4+ T cells making us vulnerable to infection. The CD4 count is a diagnostic tool used to measure the relative strength of the immune system.

1/3 of the world's population is infected with latent TB. Most will not become sick unless their immune system is compromised.

HIV attacks the immune system, creating the conditions necessary for TB disease to develop. Yet, co-infection can make detection of TB difficult.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• World AIDS Day
• HIV
• TB
• AIDS
• epidemic
• health
• South Africa
• Khayelitsha