Affiliations: Regional STD Centre, New Delhi, India | Department of Microbiology, VMMC & Safdarjang
Hospital, New Delhi, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Deepthi Nair, VMMC & Safdarjang
Hospital, D-II / 2201 Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070, India. Tel.: +91
1126707448; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The global human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency
syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic has resulted in a worsening of the tuberculosis
(TB) scenario, especially in the developing countries. The HIV-TB co-infection
has grave epidemiological consequences for TB in terms of reactivation of
latent TB infection, rapid progression of new infections to active disease and
recurrence of infection in cured TB cases. A reported 33.2 million people
worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS in 2007. The number of children living with
HIV in 2007 was estimated at 2.1 million (1.9–2.4 million) and those children
who died of AIDS in 2007 was 290,000 (270,000–320,000). The solution to this
dreaded dual infection lies in the phased implementation of TB and HIV control
activities with child centered programs gradually giving way to family centered
programs. To reduce the burden of TB in high HIV prevalence settings, the
immediate goal should be to increase TB case detection rates and, to maximally
improve TB cure rates. Public-private partnerships can enhance continuity of
care for patients with TB and HIV/AIDS with political commitment and leadership
from both public and private sectors.
Keywords: Pediatrics, HIV, tuberculosis, co-infection, India, global
