After patients with tuberculosis (TB) and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) were found positive of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), researchers advised all TB and STD patients to undergo HIV screening.

HIV is the virus that weakens the immune system and makes an infected person becomes susceptible to various infections and complications. Emergence of complications such as TB indicates that HIV infection has already progressed to an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), making TB an AIDS-defining illness.

As of December 2013, the Philippines reported an average of 13 HIV cases per day, an increase of 2667% compared with the past decade. But Department of Health (DOH) estimated these cases were 6% to 12% of at-risk populations who underwent HIV testing such as men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), female sex workers, and drug users. Other groups, including those with AIDS-defining illnesses and high probability of having HIV infection, were less likely to test because they did not perceive themselves being commonly infected of this virus, as explained by Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña of University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health during the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) 32^nd Anniversary.

Investigating HIV cases in less common groups, the research team led by Dr. Salvaña tested a minimum of 200 patients from TB, STDs, pregnant, cervical cancer group at the Philippine General Hospital, the country’s largest tertiary hospital. Initial results showed no HIV case among pregnants and cervical cancer patients while five confirmed cases in TB group and two confirmed cases among STD patients.

Based on Dr. Salvaña’s study, funded by the PCHRD, the initial prevalence of HIV among TB (2.5%) and STD (1.98%) groups was higher than 1%, the international threshold for universal screening. Thus, the recommendation for HIV screening was necessary.

“The alarming prevalence of HIV in TB and STD populations underscores the hidden nature of the epidemic in the Philippines. In the midst of crisis situations, where the prevalence of TB and STD increases, awareness of the epidemiologic link to HIV can be life-saving,” added Dr.  Salvaña.