Improved case detection of active tuberculosis associated with an antiretroviral treatment program in Lesotho

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2007 Oct;11(10):1154-6.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading infectious killer of adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) globally. Lesotho has the third highest prevalence of HIV and the fourth highest prevalence of TB worldwide, and the majority of TB patients are co-infected with HIV. This paper describes an antiretroviral treatment (ART) program instituted in a health center in a mountain region of Lesotho. Although the main goal of the program was to increase HIV detection and initiate ART for patients, the program also resulted in a ten-fold increase in the detection of TB among patients with and without HIV.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Lesotho / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tuberculosis / complications
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents