I tested positive for Tuberculosis. Could it be due to HIV infection?

Question

I had unprotected sex in march of 2005 and was at high risk of HIV exposure/infection. I was tested three times - ELISA only, no Western Blot - in the following three months. My last test was almost a full three months after potential exposure. I tested negative all three times.

However, I have had a number of strange symptoms over these past two years, none of which were present before my potential exposure. These include but are not limited to: peripheral neuropathy/paresthesia, occasional fasciculation and/or involuntary tremors, and various skin lesions. And this week I tested positive for Tuberculosis via a PPD (tuberculin sensitivity/Mantoux test) test.

I would like to know how likely it is that my positive PPD is a result of immunosupression from HIV infection. I cannot think of any other reason for testing positive (discarding the possibility of a false positive), and do plan on being tested for HIV as soon as possible, but I would like to hear from others first.

Thank you

I forgot to mention that I tested negative for TB a few months before incurring in high risk sexual activity (around December 2004).

In other words, my exposure (or possible full-on infection) to TB probably took place AFTER the aforementioned high-risk sexual activity.

TROY:

Thank you, but did you read my question? I know TB infection "has nothing to do" with HIV infection in and of itself, but like I said: I was at high risk for HIV infection two years ago.

I know for a fact that people infected with HIV who are significantly immunosupressed are likely to acquire TB infection and a significant percentage of positive TB individuals are also positive for HIV... hence my worries.

Oh, by the way, I was re-tested for HIV yesterday, a few hours after testing positive for TB. My question (as evidenced from my incessant editing) is probably symptomatic of my uneasiness and anxiety over my results, which will arrive in approximately two weeks.

Answer 1

No, a positive TB test is actually an example of an immune HYPERSENSITIVITY. It means you have been exposed to but not necessarily infected with TB, it has nothing to do with HIV.
I'll clarify, the TB test has nothing to do with HIV. you can test postive without being infected with TB, just being exposed. I have a classmate who just tested postive for TB but has no signs of the disease and is perfectly healthy.
All I am saying is don't base your worries about HIV on the TB test. Until your HIV test comes back, just focus on further testing and Treatment of TB.

Answer 2

It's very possible that you had been exposed to TB before, and it remained latent, and then your immune system fought it, and your ppd came back positive. It's also possible (though not likely) that too many ppd tests are making you sensitive to the proteins, and you've actually developed an immune response against those proteins. I'm saying it's not likely because many, many people have to get the test done yearly, and it doesn't cause a sensitivity reaction, but it is within the realm of possibility if it's being done too often. Also, I'm interested to know about possible infection routes for TB. Do you ride the bus or train often? Do you work in a hospital? A school? Have you been around anyone who's returned from a trip to an area with high TB prevalance?
It is possible to be positive on a TB test without being immunocompromised. And if you haven't gotten TB, that's actually a sign that your immune system is working. I'm assuming they're planning a chest x-ray or additional testing for this?
Best of luck.

Answer 3

I really don't think you can make too much of the positive PPD in relation to HIV. Many people have positive PPD tests and do not have active TB. And really, your immune system wouldn't be suppressed that much so soon, even if you did have HIV exposure. Just get your xray to see if you have active TB. If you don't, then your immune system can't be too suppressed since it has taken care of the TB and put it into a latent state.

If your ELISA test is positive, get the Western Blot. If the Western Blot is negative, you are negative for HIV. No more tests needed
.

Answer 4

Well you should test for HIV a month after exposure, 3 months after exposure and then 6 months after exposure. You should have been tested more recently for the HIV than you have. You could be experiencing any form of problems unrelated to possible HIV, but more from the growing TB infection. Get yourself retested for the HIV and start treating the TB which is up to a year of antibiotics.

Answer 5

Have you tested for other STDs? People tend to test for HIV but forget that there are a zillion other STDs out there. I haven't heard of HIV resulting in neuro symptoms. Peripheral neropathy is most commonly associated with diabetes...I think late stage syphillis has them, too. You mentioned skin lesions, did any of them happen to be rash, say, on the palms and feet? Or a painless pimple in the genital area before the rash showed up?

Get your chest xray for TB first, to see if you have the full blown infection. Take TB antibiotics either way, more of them if your chest xray shows active disease. You're right that TB and HIV often go togeter, since with AIDS your immune system is so weak that your body can't fight off TB, making your initial exposure really bad, or your past exposure reactivate.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Hmm. I took a test once and they gave me the results a month later (negative). I went to planned parenthood to do this because I wanted confidentiality, they never made me test again. I don't want to scare you, but it could be possible it is positive if they are having him retest, or they are having him do it because sometimes it can take up to six months for the antibodies to show up in a blood test. Try not to worry until you have a confirmed result, even if it is positive, medicine is advanced and it prolongs life, it is not a death sentance like it used to be.

Answer 7

The med student who responded to your questions is absolutely right. Exposure to TB might cause you to show a positive test but that does not mean you have it. Also......it defintiely does not mean that you have HIV.

Answer 8

Acupuncture, which involves inserting thin needles into various points on your body, may reduce peripheral neuropathy symptoms.