TB, Smoking and HIV

Tuberculosis, smoking and HIV are frequently found together, and each disease can increase the risk and severity of the others.

It's important to recognize the combined risk of these three types of infection if you have one of them, to be tested for each, and receive appropriate treatment.

• Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide.
• TB and HIV are leading causes of death due to infection.
• Tuberculosis infection is found in one-third of the world's population.
• Smoking is more prevalent among those diagnosed with TB or HIV.
• Smoking is associated with TB infection, TB disease, and poorer TB treatment outcomes.
• Smoking is also associated with increased risk of tobacco- related diseases among people living with HIV.
• Smoking may also inhibit the effectiveness of life-saving anti-retroviral treatment for HIV.
• People with HIV are more likely to progress from TB infection to TB disease.
• People with HIV are more likely to die from TB than any other disease.