Tuberculosis and pneumonia in HIV-infected children: an overview

Abstract

Pneumonia remains the most common cause of hospitalization and the most important cause of death in young children. In high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-burden settings, HIV-infected children carry a high burden of lower respiratory tract infection from common respiratory viruses, bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, Pneumocystis jirovecii and cytomegalovirus are important opportunistic pathogens. As the vertical transmission risk of HIV decreases and access to antiretroviral therapy increases, the epidemiology of these infections is changing, but HIV-infected infants and children still carry a disproportionate burden of these infections. There is also increasing recognition of the impact of in utero exposure to HIV on the general health of exposed but uninfected infants. The reasons for this increased risk are not limited to socioeconomic status or adverse environmental conditions—there is emerging evidence that these HIV-exposed but uninfected infants may have particular immune deficits that could increase their vulnerability to respiratory pathogens. We discuss the impact of tuberculosis and other lower respiratory tract infections on the health of HIV-infected infants and children.

The impact of health programmes to prevent vertical transmission of HIV. Advances, emerging health challenges and research priorities for children exposed to or living with HIV: Perspectives from South Africa

“…[83] Although there is considerable difficulty estimating the association between HIV and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in African children, the epidemiology of childhood TB and HIV overlap considerably. [84,85] Routine programmatic data from Cape Town prior to the paediatric ART roll-out reported a TB incidence of 1 596 per 100 000 [86] in CLHIV, decreasing considerably following ART access, [87,88] and linked also to a reduction in associated hospitalisations. [89] HIV infection associated with multidrug-resistant (MDR) paediatric TB is a challenge, and SA studies reported a paediatric HIV prevalence of 54%, 77% and 43% amongst children with MDR TB in Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town, Western Cape in 2008, 2009 -2010 and 2003 -2008 respectively.…”

Review on antibacterial activity of Himalayan medicinal plants traditionally used to treat pneumonia and tuberculosis

“…It is acute respiratory tract infection that causes inflammation in the alveoli of lungs resulting in accumulation of pus and fluid, which lead to difficulty in breathing. Pneumonia mainly affects younger children as compared to adults causing annually 0.68–0.92 million deaths in children worldwide . Tuberculosis on the other hand is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis , which mostly affects the lungs, causing lung tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculosis.…”

“…Tuberculosis is a dreadful infection in developing countries especially in African and Asian continents, probably due to their insufficient means for its treatment. Tuberculosis infects 9 million people mostly children every year, which leads to approximately 2 million deaths annually . These statistics related to pneumonia and tuberculosis deaths are likely to increase in future due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and spread of multidrug‐resistant bacterial strains…”

“…Pneumonia mainly affects younger children as compared to adults causing annually 0.68-0.92 million deaths in children worldwide. [3] Tuberculosis on the other hand is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which mostly affects the lungs, causing lung tuberculosis or pulmonary tuberculosis. However, in most cases other body parts may also be affected leading to lung tuberculosis.…”

“…Tuberculosis infects 9 million people mostly children every year, which leads to approximately 2 million deaths annually. [3,5] These statistics related to pneumonia and tuberculosis deaths are likely to increase in future due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and spread of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. [6] In South Asia, plant species are abundantly found in the Himalayan forests that play a key role in the rural livelihood needs for food and medicines.…”