TB common cause of death in HIV infected ---Dr. Kabrang
By RABI ABDULLAHI BATURE

TUBERCULOSIS (TB) has been described as common cause of death in people infected with HIV/AIDS.
The clinical officer Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN), Dr. Nehemiah Danjuma Kabrang made the statement while presenting a paper at the referral network meeting held at GHAIN`s conference hall field office, last Wednesday.
According to him, HIV infected persons have a 50 percent life time risk of developing active TB compared to 5-10 percent persons who are not HIV infected.
Dr. Kabrang also explained that in persons infected with HIV, the presence of other infections including tuberculosis, allows HIV to multiply more quickly.
He further added that some of the major signs and symptoms of TB include coughing which may last for more than three weeks which may not respond to usual antibiotic treatment, as well as evening fever, night sweat weight loss, and production of purulent and sometimes blood stained sputum.
Also in an interview with Daily Triumph, the referral officer of GHAIN, Dr. Abubakar Ahmad explained that referral is an effective and efficient two way process of linking a patient/client from one service to another, adding that a referral network is thus a coordinated process of service delivery to provide health and community services to people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS throughout the continuum of care.