Question
Long term benefits of treatment – is TB coinfection rare?
9 April 2008. Related: All topics, Complications and coinfections, Opportunistic infections, Starting treatment.
I know through personal experience without any medication, that HIV develops into AIDS after 17 years. What I would like to know is the life expectancy of someone with AIDS who hasn’t used any medication? The reason I am asking you this is because, a fortnight ago I caught TB and I thought that was unusual. What do you think?
Answer
Thank you for your questions. The fact is that some people progress to AIDS more quickly than others. Other progress really slowly. The average number of years for this process is about 7-8 years.
In terms of your second question, there is a strong link between HIV and TB. TB is the number one opportunistic infection that affects people living with HIV. HIV-positive people are far more likely for latent TB infection to become active. Although this can happen at any CD4 count, the lower your CD4 count goes, the higher the risk of other infections, including TB.
For more information on TB as an opportunistic infection see the TB section of the i-Base advocates manual.
The UK HIV/TB guidelines suggest that when someone has TB they should take TB medication for at least two weeks while they are being monitored for any adverse reactions to the treatment. If everything is alright they can start HIV treatment as well, though time of HIV meds depends on CD4 count.
Many people with AIDS who start treatment have gone on to live a long time, living very fulfilling lives. It is never too late to start HIV treatment. Access is to HIV treatment is improving in all regions of the world.
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