Tuberculosis and HIV in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an important public health problem in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization. Every year the disease kills 136,000 people and affects 630,000 more. HIV is the most significant risk factor for progression from subclinical infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis to active TB. Although the HIV/AIDS threat in the Region appears to be relatively modest and so far there has been no evidence of an impact of HIV on TB epidemiology in the Region, there is a need to jointly address HIV infection and TB more effectively. In this paper the TB situation in the Region and the measures being taken to combat it are outlined. The impact of HIV infection on TB and the repercussions this could have on theTB situation in the Region are also discussed. Actions that are needed to tackle this double burden are suggested.
Gillini
L
L
Stop TB Unit, Division of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt.
Seita
A
A
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002423:Cause of Death; D003906:Developing Countries; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007391:International Cooperation; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization / Q000458:organization & administration
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents