Can COVID-19 Be a risk factor for tuberculosis? COVID-19 and tuberculosis

Abstract

?Most COVID-19 severe cases are presented with uncontrolled elevated level of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1?, IL-2?? IL-8, IL-17, G- CSF, GM- CSF, IP10, MCP1, CCL3, and TNF which is called cytokine storm. Previous studies showed that proinflammatory cytokine overexpression such as TNF and IL-6 exacerbates TB. In COVID-19 patients, we are facing immune system imbalance due to cytokine storm. Thus, COVID-19 may be a predisposing factor to turn latent TB to active TB.