Early detection and treatment of TB for HIV-infected people

According to the report of the International Conference of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, the world has one third of the population infected with TB; In which, 11 million TB patients are living with AIDS, 28% of TB patients are infected with HIV at the age of 14-25 and mainly in poor countries and developing countries.

Currently, Vietnam has about 4,000 TB patients who are HIV infected. Particularly in Can Tho City, according to statistics of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, TB / HIV patients are detected and treated with increasing TB every year. In 2004, there were only 36 patients; by 2006, this number was 71 patients. The total number of TB / HIV patients receiving TB treatment in 2005 was 71; In which, 40 patients were evaluated from tuberculosis, 23 patients died, the remainder quit treatment or moved elsewhere.

The HIV / AIDS epidemic has greatly affected the goal of controlling tuberculosis of the national tuberculosis program. Tuberculosis is the leading opportunistic infection among people with HIV. The risk of TB infection among HIV-infected people is nearly 30 times higher than that of people without HIV infection. HIV-infected tuberculosis also makes the development of HIV turn to AIDS more quickly. And tuberculosis also reduces the lifespan of HIV-infected people because it contributes to reducing body immunity faster.

Tuberculosis and HIV are naturally contagious diseases . The difficult thing is that HIV-infected people have almost no obvious clinical conditions and many people do not know that they are infected with HIV, so they do not go for examination and testing. In contrast, HIV-infected people are less interested or because they do not seek medical examination or TB detection. Many patients with tuberculosis who are diagnosed with TB are found to be HIV-infected and in advanced stage of HIV infection to seek TB detection.

Therefore, in Vietnam, the TB prevention program has been closely coordinated with the HIV / AIDS prevention and control program in early detection and treatment activities for TB / HIV patients to minimize The source of TB transmission, the reduction of death from opportunistic infections in HIV / AIDS patients is especially due to TB. To enhance TB detection in HIV / AIDS patients, the national anti-tuberculosis program has collaborated with a number of projects to implement voluntary testing laboratories to detect HIV cases early. Then, switch to outpatient clinics for clinically monitored patients to detect and treat early opportunistic infections including tuberculosis.

In Can Tho, in addition to voluntary testing sites implemented by the HIV / AIDS Prevention Center in some districts, there are 2 voluntary testing and counseling rooms implemented by the national TB program in 2 districts: Red Flag and Vinh Thanh. These clinics create favorable conditions between patients and medical staff in tuberculosis and HIV detection.

Signs of pulmonary tuberculosis detection in HIV-infected people are the same as those of non-HIV-infected people such as:

- Ho spits lasting more than 2 weeks.
- Fever in the afternoon or prolonged fever.
- Skinny, weight loss.
- Chest pain.

When you see one of the above signs, you should immediately go to the tuberculosis clinic and the voluntary testing and counseling room at the district preventive medicine centers for guidance on examination and examination.

Treatment and evaluation of outcomes from tuberculosis in HIV-infected people is similar to other TB patients. This means that patients are treated according to the regimen, and TB medicines are given for free. The patients are managed by local health workers and provided with outpatient drugs; At the same time, monitoring and monitoring patients using tuberculosis during 8 months of treatment. The result of tuberculosis of HIV-infected people is that when treatment has been completed enough, the results of the last post-mortem test do not have TB bacteria.

It is important to prevent and successfully treat tuberculosis. You must seek medical care when you see signs of suspected TB to be detected early. Be patient, strictly follow the instructions of the medical staff in charge of the treatment process. Must take enough, regularly, on time .

Doctor HUYNH VAN THANH (Hospital of Lao and Lung Hospital in Can Tho City)