HIV/TB infection revealed among South African infants

Young children with HIV have a substantially higher susceptibility to tuberculosis, it has been found.

According to research conducted in South Africa, HIV-positive infants are around 20 times more likely to contract TB that those without the virus.

The study was conducted by scientists at the Desmond Tutu TB Centre at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.

It found that HIV-positive infants were 24.1 times more likely to develop pulmonary TB and a 17.1 times more likely to develop the disseminated form of the disease.

One of the research group, Dr Anneke Hesseling, told Reuters: "The current status of TB amongst HIV-infected children is still very high.

"This burden is not always accurately assessed because it can be difficult to confirm the diagnosis of TB in young children.

"A very important strategy to reduce the TB burden amongst infants born to HIV- infected women is to implement TB screening amongst pregnant women."