What is identified as the strongest known risk factor for tuberculosis?

What is identified as the strongest known risk factor for tuberculosis?

• A. HIV infection
• B. Malnutrition
• C. Smoking
• D. Diabetes

Answer: (A)

HIV infection is recognized as the strongest known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) due to the way it severely compromises the immune system. When a person's immune function is weakened by HIV, their ability to combat infections decreases significantly, making them more susceptible to developing active TB if they are exposed to the bacteria that cause it. Individuals with HIV are at a much higher risk of progression from latent TB infection to active TB disease. This is particularly critical in regions where both HIV and TB are prevalent, leading to a high burden of co-infection. Consequently, those who are HIV positive have a much greater likelihood of contracting TB compared to those without HIV. Malnutrition, smoking, and diabetes can also contribute to an individual's risk of developing TB, but none of these factors have the same profound impact on immune system functionality as HIV does. Malnutrition can affect overall health and immune response, smoking is known to impair lung function and immune response, and diabetes can compromise immune defenses, yet the direct correlation between HIV infection and TB incidence is notably stronger.

HIV infection is recognized as the strongest known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) due to the way it severely compromises the immune system. When a person's immune function is weakened by HIV, their ability to combat infections decreases significantly, making them more susceptible to developing active TB if they are exposed to the bacteria that cause it.

Individuals with HIV are at a much higher risk of progression from latent TB infection to active TB disease. This is particularly critical in regions where both HIV and TB are prevalent, leading to a high burden of co-infection. Consequently, those who are HIV positive have a much greater likelihood of contracting TB compared to those without HIV.

Malnutrition, smoking, and diabetes can also contribute to an individual's risk of developing TB, but none of these factors have the same profound impact on immune system functionality as HIV does. Malnutrition can affect overall health and immune response, smoking is known to impair lung function and immune response, and diabetes can compromise immune defenses, yet the direct correlation between HIV infection and TB incidence is notably stronger.