patients with TB and latent TB at increased susceptibility and severity Of Covid19.

[Dan848852]

I’ve now got latent TB - what should we take from this and why isn’t it widely reported yet?

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

[HelenC Partner TB Alert]

Hi Dan848852,

Thanks for sharing this research. It is one of the few bits of science out there about the new coronavirus and how it interacts with TB. We received it last week and have already had it assessed by our own TB experts and our advice has been updated on that basis.

They advised us as follows:

-The small sample size makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions from this research.

-The differences in severity and rate of progression are not significant enough to confirm a trend.

-As people with active TB or covid-19 will both have lung changes, it is difficult to determine whether one would make the other worse or if the changes shown in this research are 'additive' i.e. simply damage from both conditions added together.

-They emphasised that the risk from COVID-19 is increased where there is lung damage and therefore it is sensible to take precautions in the case of someone with active pulmonary TB or lasting lung damage from TB.

-As for latent TB, the risk of reactivation is not known but would likely be influenced by the severity of the individual's experience of COVID-19 and other health conditions.

Either way, the advice is the same. People should heed advice on self-isolation and social distancing. Anyone with specific concerns about their vulnerability will benefit from enhanced precautions.

I hope this helps. We will be updating our website continually as the science evolves.

Best wishes,

Helen