MANILA — One out of five deaths among people living with human immunodeficiency (PLHIV) is due to tuberculosis (TB), the Department of Health (DOH) said.
The DOH said tuberculosis is the primary cause of death among PLHIV. However, the agency said that this can be prevented with early medical screenings and treatments.
“There is a high possibility for PLHIV to have TB due to a weak immune system. If this is not treated immediately, it can lead to serious complications or even death,” the DOH wrote in a Facebook post.
The agency earlier reported 5,101 newly diagnosed cases of PLHIV from January to March 2025. During the same period, the average number of confirmed HIV cases per day reached 57.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said that the largest number of new TB cases was tallied in Southeast Asia in 2023, with 87 percent of new cases coming from 30 high TB-burden countries, including the Philippines.
The DOH added that the co-infection of HIV and TB can be prevented through regular TB screening, continuous antiretroviral therapy (ART), and use of Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT).
The DOH advised the public to wear a mask and seek medical consultation if a cough lasts for two weeks. It also urged the parents to have their toddlers vaccinated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine to avoid the dangers of TB.
It also advised those with family members diagnosed with TB to avail themselves of TPT at health centers even if they don’t have any symptoms. (Dianne Sampang © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
