THE PROBLEM OF HIV AND TUBERCULOSIS CO-INFECTION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Currently, tuberculosis kills about 250,000 children worldwide, most of whom are under 5 years old. Additionally, HIV is a real and prevalent concern in third-world countries, and due to this, the alert for coinfection of the two diseases should be a real and monitored fear. This review aimed to analyze controlled clinical trials and randomized controlled clinical trials, totaling 25 articles on the subject, which were selected after inclusion and exclusion criteria. Through the analysis of the studies, it was evident that empirical prophylaxis for TB is not indicated, and that IRIS syndrome should always be questioned whenever ART is initiated. Screening, longitudinal follow-up, and double-dose antiretroviral therapy, specifically dolutegravir and raltegravir, which were studied, in conjunction with rifampicin, is essential to change the outcome of these patients.