Main Article Content
The Story Of Tuberclosis: A Reason For Hope For The HIV/AIDS Patient
Abstract
Before the discovery of specific antibiotics for the treatment of tuberculosis, there was no cure. It took several millennia before the specific organism was uncovered and appropriate drug therapy discovered.
The initial euphoria of this discovery was dashed by early occurrence of drug resistance. This was overcome, but not completely so, by the use of multi drug therapy. The issue of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis which was a growing concern, even in advanced countries, became more intense by the advent of the Human Immun Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection. However, due to growing scientific knowledge, the lessons learnt from the handling of mycobacterium tuberculosis and the disease caused by it, the war against the HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Sydrome (AIDS) which it causes, is being fought in all fronts. The delays experienced with the old disease has been overcome by increased knowledge and interest since the effect of the later on the population has been found to be devastating.
A co-infection of both diseases or a super-infection of one upon the other presents more complex management problems that have stimulated more intense research. It is hoped that the results of these research works may unearth the solution to the problems of both diseases.
Sahel Medical Journal Vol.7(1) 2004: 1-5
The initial euphoria of this discovery was dashed by early occurrence of drug resistance. This was overcome, but not completely so, by the use of multi drug therapy. The issue of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis which was a growing concern, even in advanced countries, became more intense by the advent of the Human Immun Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection. However, due to growing scientific knowledge, the lessons learnt from the handling of mycobacterium tuberculosis and the disease caused by it, the war against the HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Sydrome (AIDS) which it causes, is being fought in all fronts. The delays experienced with the old disease has been overcome by increased knowledge and interest since the effect of the later on the population has been found to be devastating.
A co-infection of both diseases or a super-infection of one upon the other presents more complex management problems that have stimulated more intense research. It is hoped that the results of these research works may unearth the solution to the problems of both diseases.
Sahel Medical Journal Vol.7(1) 2004: 1-5
