Risk factors for tuberculosis

There are a number risk factors for tuberculosis infection; worldwide the most important of these is HIV. Co-infection with HIV is a particular problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, due to the high incidence of HIV in these countries.[1][2] Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day increases the risk of TB by two to four times[3] while silicosis increases the risk about 30 fold.[4] Diabetes mellitus is also an important risk factor that is growing in importance in developing countries.[5] Other disease states that increase the risk of developing tuberculosis are Hodgkin lymphoma, end-stage renal disease, chronic lung disease, malnutrition, and alcoholism.[6] A person's genetics also play a role.[7]

  1. ^ World Health Organization. "Global tuberculosis control–surveillance, planning, financing WHO Report 2006". Retrieved 13 October 2006.
  2. ^ Chaisson, RE; Martinson, NA (2008-03-13). "Tuberculosis in Africa--combating an HIV-driven crisis". The New England Journal of Medicine. 358 (11): 1089–92. doi:10.1056/NEJMp0800809. PMID 18337598.
  3. ^ Davies PD, Yew WW, Ganguly D, Davidow AL, Reichman LB, Dheda K, Rook GA (April 2006). "Smoking and tuberculosis: the epidemiological association and immunopathogenesis". Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 100 (4): 291–8. doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.06.034. PMID 16325875.
  4. ^ "Targeted tuberculin testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. American Thoracic Society". MMWR Recomm Rep. 49 (RR–6): 1–51. June 2000. PMID 10881762.
  5. ^ Restrepo, BI (2007-08-15). "Convergence of the tuberculosis and diabetes epidemics: renewal of old acquaintances". Clinical Infectious Diseases. 45 (4): 436–8. doi:10.1086/519939. PMC 2900315. PMID 17638190.
  6. ^ Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, Mitchell RN (2007). Robbins Basic Pathology (8th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. pp. 516–522. ISBN 978-1-4160-2973-1.
  7. ^ Möller, M; Hoal, EG (March 2010). "Current findings, challenges and novel approaches in human genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis". Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland). 90 (2): 71–83. doi:10.1016/j.tube.2010.02.002. PMID 20206579.