Editing Tuberculosis (section)

==== Immunodeficiencies ====

The most important risk factor globally for developing active TB is concurrent human immunodeficiency virus ([[HIV]]) infection; in 2023, 6.1% of those becoming infected with TB were also infected with HIV.<ref name="Who_Global_2024" /> [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] has a particularly high burden of HIV-associated TB.<ref name="WHO_Factsheet_2025" /> Of those without HIV infection who are infected with tuberculosis, about 5–15% develop active disease during their lifetimes;<ref name="Price_2024" /> in contrast, 30% of those co-infected with HIV develop the active disease.<ref name="Gibson_BMJ_2005" /> People living with HIV are estimated 16 times more likely to fall ill with TB than people without HIV; TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV.<ref name="WHO_Factsheet_2025" />

Another important risk factor is use of medications which suppress the immune system; these include, [[chemotherapy]], medication for [[lupus]] or [[rheumatoid arthritis]], and medication after an [[Organ transplantation|organ transplant]].<ref name="PHA_Canada_2024">{{Cite web |date=2024-02-21 |title=Tuberculosis (TB): Prevention and risks |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/tuberculosis/prevention-risks.html |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=Public Health Agency of Canada}}</ref> Other risk factors include: [[alcoholism]], [[diabetes mellitus]], [[silicosis]], [[cigarette|tobacco smoking]], recreational drug use, severe kidney disease, head and neck cancer, low body weight.<ref name="PHA_Canada_2024" /><ref name="CDC_Risk_2016">{{Cite web|date=March 18, 2016 |title=TB Risk Factors |url=https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/risk.htm|access-date=25 August 2020|website=CDC |language=en-us|archive-date=30 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830234002/https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/risk.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Children, especially those under age five, have undeveloped immune systems and are at higher risk.<ref name="CDC_Risk_2016" />

Environmental factors which weaken the body's protective mechanisms and may put a person at additional risk of contracting TB include [[air pollution]], exposure to smoke (including [[tobacco smoke]]), and exposure (often [[Occupational safety and health|occupational]]) to dust or [[Particulate pollution|particulates]].<ref name="Schmidt-2008" />