Chronic Alcoholics Are Risk Of Contracting Tuberculosis

Chronic Alcoholics Are Risk Of Contracting Tuberculosis

Alcohol use has long been linked to a risk for tuberculosis, with the prevalence of alcohol use disorders ranging from 10% to 50% in patients with tuberculosis. Also, studies have shown that populations with a high prevalence of alcohol use disorders have an increased risk for tuberculosis. However, these studies did not control for potential confounding factors.

Mechanisms explaining the link between alcohol intake and the risk for tuberculosis may include specific social mixing patterns among people with alcohol use disorders, leading to a higher risk for infection, or impaired immunity leading to a higher risk for clinical illness resulting from tuberculosis infection. The latter may be caused by direct toxicity of alcohol on the immune system or by other alcohol-related comorbidities.