MANILA, Philippines —The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public, particularly people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV), that they are more susceptible to developing tuberculosis (TB) due to a weakened immune system.
In a Facebook post Friday, the DOH said that if a person has HIV, they were more likely to develop TB as the virus weakens the body’s immune system.
“HIV is a disease that attacks the immune system, particularly the CD4 T-cells,” the agency said.
CD4 T cells are a type of white blood cell that serve as the immune system’s managers, helping defend against bacteria.
The DOH said that when the CD4 T cells run out, the body's defense against various diseases is weakened.
“This is where opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis enter. Many of us may have TB bacteria sleeping inside the body because it is usually controlled by a strong immune system. But because HIV weakens the immune system, TB wakes up and becomes an active disease,” the agency said.