Pulmonary Tuberculosis Co-infection and COVID-19 in Senegal

Abstract

New Coronavirus Disease (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome. Appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, it affects more than 188 countries around the world to date. Africa is not spared by this pandemic (COVID-19), which is on the rise. Tuberculosis (TB), a disease endemic in Africa with a fatality of 1.5 million people per year, like COVID-19, is transmitted mainly by the respiratory route and affects the lungs[1,2]. In the literature, few studies have demonstrated the association and interactions between these two pathologies. However, the fragmented data reveal that tuberculosis with pulmonary localization must be considered as a potential risk factor for aggravation or complication of the disease. COVID-19, especially since the lung damage is significant, therefore In the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, we must not forget to suspect and appropriately manage tuberculosis [2]. We report here the case of 3 patients who presented with COVID-19-Tuberculosis co-infection, treated at the level of the Epidemic Treatment Center (CTE) of the Thiès regional hospital in Senegal and whose evolution is favorable under early and adequate treatment.