TB or not TB in HIV infection.

Abstract

The progression of tuberculosis (TB) is significantly faster in patients with HIV infection. TB is also the main cause of death for HIV-infected individuals, resulting in fatality for 1 of 3 patients. We present the case of a 26-year-old male who arrived at the hospital having previously been diagnosed with HIV in 2014, but was not compliant to the ARV treatment prescribed. The patient presented with acute onset of fever, cough, hemoptysis and malaise. Investigations such as sputum samples and a lymph node biopsy revealed the presence of M. tuberculosis in optic microscopy, which led to a diagnosis of pulmonary and ganglionary TB. As one of the first opportunistic infections that occur in HIV-infected individuals, TB may be one of the earliest clues of an HIV infection. Current guidelines recommend that all individuals diagnosed with HIV should also undertake testing for TB infections.