COVID-19 and TB. Review

Abstract

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has caused millions of casualties and led to enormous health and socio-economic consequences. Numerous studies show that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant disruptions to the health care system have occurred, which was reflected on the one hand in a decrease in the detection of tuberculosis, but also in an increase in cases of severe disease and acute progression of this disease. The 2020 WHO global report showed that for the first time in 10 years, mortality from tuberculosis has increased. According to many studies, COVID-19 and tuberculosis have a synergistic relationship, enhancing each other’s harmful effects. Both pathogens cause a general dysregulation of immune responses, leading to an increased risk of severity and progression of both diseases, including the possibility of cytokine storm and lethal outcomes. Given the synergistic impact of these two respiratory diseases, it is critical to treat both diseases simultaneously to control TB syndrome and COVID-19. The effects of the past pandemic will inevitably have an impact in the future, especially since COVID-19, which has not disappeared, has been added to the usual flu, ARVI and other seasonal diseases. In this regard, there is a need to include measures to integrate COVID-19 safety awareness in various national programs, and there is a need for coordinated global health activities aimed at combating emerging pandemics while ensuring continued provision of health services to people requiring treatment for ongoing diseases.