For an HIV patient with CD4 count below 200, when should tuberculosis testing be performed?

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Multiple Choice

For an HIV patient with CD4 count below 200, when should tuberculosis testing be performed?

Explanation:
In HIV, especially when the CD4 count is very low, TB screening should be done right away. These patients are at high risk for TB, and disease can be latent or present with few or atypical symptoms in advanced immunosuppression. Testing at baseline (with TST or IGRA) helps catch infection early, guiding treatment and reducing progression and transmission. Even if there are no symptoms, testing is still warranted because TB can slip by clinically in immunocompromised hosts. Waiting until symptoms appear or until CD4 improves delays diagnosis and care.

In HIV, especially when the CD4 count is very low, TB screening should be done right away. These patients are at high risk for TB, and disease can be latent or present with few or atypical symptoms in advanced immunosuppression. Testing at baseline (with TST or IGRA) helps catch infection early, guiding treatment and reducing progression and transmission. Even if there are no symptoms, testing is still warranted because TB can slip by clinically in immunocompromised hosts. Waiting until symptoms appear or until CD4 improves delays diagnosis and care.

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