Tuberculosis in HIV-infected children

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people worldwide. HIV-positive children are at risk of diagnostic error as well as delayed diagnosis of TB because of overlapping clinical and radiographic features with other lung diseases. Acute pneumonias and chronic lung diseases such as bronchiectasis and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis are difficult to distinguish from TB. TB manifestations are more severe in HIV-positive children and progression to death is more rapid than in HIV-negative children. The response to standard short-course therapy in HIV-positive children is not as good as in HIV-negative children due to lower cure rates and higher mortality. TB hastens the progression of HIV disease by increasing viral replication and reducing CD4 counts further. Although Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination could lead to disseminated Mycobacterium bovis disease in the presence of immunosuppression, this has been rarely reported. More studies are required to assess the role of newer diagnostic tests, TB preventive therapy and co-administration of anti-retroviral therapy in the control of TB among HIV-infected children.