Subject(s)
Humans , National Health Programs , Primary Health Care , Tuberculosis/prevention & control , ChileABSTRACT
At present, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to have infected over 17 million people worldwide, over 1 million in North America and roughly 2 million in Latin America and the Caribbean. By comparison, infection with the tuberculosis (TB) agent mycobacterium tuberculosis is far more common, current estimates that roughly one-third of the world's population is infected. These two infections tend to aggravate each other. That is, HIV leads to a progressive immune system depression that favors reactivation of TB in people with latent tuberculous infections; it promotes progression of TB primary infections or reinfections to full-blown tuberculous disease; and it fosters TB transmission, because those simultaneously infected with HIV and M. tuberculosis tend to develop a bacilliferous and contagious TB that can be transmitted to other susceptible individuals, even though the latter are HIV-negative. In addition, this coinfection tends to promote circulation of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis and to produce peculiar manifestations that complicate TB diagnosis, treatment, and control. Overall, it seems clear that the growing threat posed by the these associated agents demands effective action in the form of well-coordinated measures involving thoroughgoing participation by all countries
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/epidemiology , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , HIV Infections , Disease Outbreaks , Latin America/epidemiology , Caribbean RegionABSTRACT
En el presente artículo se describen la pandemia del SIDA y su evolución desde que comenzó, así como la distribución geográfica de la enfermedad en América Latina y el Caribe. Posteriormente se examina el problema de la tuberculosis desde el punto de vista de su patogenia y repercusión en la salud pública de los países y se explica la interacción entre el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y Mycobacterium tuberculosis en América Latina y el Caribe, prestando atención a las características de la asociación que la convierten en un problema de salud pública de gravedad. Por último se señala la necesidad prioritaria de conocer el estado actual de esta asociación en los diversos países y de diseminar la información que en ellos se genera (AU)
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/epidemiology , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Latin America , Caribbean RegionABSTRACT
En el presente artículo se describen la pandemia del SIDA y su evolución desde que comenzó, así como la distribución geográfica de la enfermedad en América Latina y el Caribe. Posteriormente se examina el problema de la tuberculosis desde el punto de vista de su patogenia y repercusión en la salud pública de los países y se explica la interacción entre el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana y Mycobacterium tuberculosis en América Latina y el Caribe, prestando atención a las características de la asociación que la convierten en un problema de salud pública de gravedad. Por último se señala la necesidad prioritaria de conocer el estado actual de esta asociación en los diversos países y de diseminar la información que en ellos se genera (AU)
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Latin America , Tuberculosis , Disease Outbreaks , Caribbean RegionABSTRACT
At present, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to have infected over 17 million people worldwide, over 1 million in North America and roughly 2 million in Latin America and the Caribbean. By comparison, infection with the tuberculosis (TB) agent mycobacterium tuberculosis is far more common, current estimates that roughly one-third of the world's population is infected. These two infections tend to aggravate each other. That is, HIV leads to a progressive immune system depression that favors reactivation of TB in people with latent tuberculous infections; it promotes progression of TB primary infections or reinfections to full-blown tuberculous disease; and it fosters TB transmission, because those simultaneously infected with HIV and M. tuberculosis tend to develop a bacilliferous and contagious TB that can be transmitted to other susceptible individuals, even though the latter are HIV-negative. In addition, this coinfection tends to promote circulation of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis and to produce peculiar manifestations that complicate TB diagnosis, treatment, and control. Overall, it seems clear that the growing threat posed by the these associated agents demands effective action in the form of well-coordinated measures involving thoroughgoing participation by all countries
Edited and updated version of a contribution previously published in Spanish in the BOSP. 116(3):250-262, 1994
