Impact of COVID-19 and TB co-infection on global patients in the pandemic situation: an update review

COVID-19 has been emerged as a deadly disease due to its immense severity to human beings around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this prevalence as pandemic because of the diversified natures of corona virus. People of all ages, mainly elderly people having various medical conditions and pregnant women are the most vulnerable groups for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This epidemic condition has made serious consequences for global health and socio-economic condition. Tuberculosis (TB) is another life threatening chronic disease that affects patients severely in their lungs. Synergistic effects of TB and COVID-19 aggravate the mortality rate of co-infected patients as both of the diseases manifest in the respiratory systems and show very similar signs and symptoms. Even, the modes of transmission of these diseases occur via spreading of droplets from infected persons to healthy persons. Therefore, the aim of this review is to describe update information on co-infection relation, diagnosis, prevention and control measures associated with TB and COVID-19 in order to manage this pandemic situation early and effectively.