Carepeak Specialist Clinic offers a comprehensive care TB and ART clinic. This clinic is for those patients who have either one of the conditions or both. TB and HIV co-infection are a common phenomena owing to several reasons that sort of favor their coexistence.
It has been long established that the burden of TB infection was increased with the advent of untreated HIV/AIDS. TB is highly endemic in Sub-Sahara Africa and particularly here in Zambia also. While not all TB infections result in active TB infection and disease, the presence of TB tubercles in one’s lung parenchyma predisposes them to develop TB in the future, especially if their immune system becomes weakened for any reason.
A healthy adult human body is usually able to keep a TB infection in some form of stale-mate state for many years. This is because of the special nature of the Tuberculosis bacteria, mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacteria has a special outer coating that makes it resistant to many antibiotics that would otherwise treat it.
On the other hand, HIV infection when untreated causes progressive weakness of a very integral component of the immune system that is responsible for identifying and mounting defense against unique disease-causing agents. This is why it is important for an individual with HIV to be on treatment with ART (Antiretroviral treatment). It keeps the patient from getting an active disease caused by pathogens that wouldn’t under normal circumstances cause such. These are sometimes referred to as opportunistic infections.
In the absence of treatment TB and HIV co-infection is a deadly combination that can wreak havoc on a patient. Thankfully, both, TB and HIV are very treatable and manageable. It is just important for a patient to present for diagnosis and treatment early. Because of the many possible complications that may arise from HIV and TB co-infection, sometimes it is beneficial for patients to be attended to by specialist doctors in infectious diseases. At Carepeak Specialist Clinic, we have an HIV specialist who clients can consult with under the HIV/TB clinic.
Many aspects of HIV are tackled including but not limited to;
- Understanding HIV and AIDS
- Prevention and Protection
- Medications and Coping with Stigma
- Optimizing Therapy
- Important Monitoring Investigations
- New and Prospective Therapies
The clinic is designed for the convenience of both those newly diagnosed with HIV or TB or both, and those who have long been positive and are on treatment.
Our experts have vast knowledge and great experience dealing with HIV, TB, and HIV-TB Co-infections. Visit Carepeak today or visit the website to book your appointment online.