Tuberculosis and pneumonia are some key indicators of AIDS.

● The pneumologists recommend HIV testing to patients presenting with suspected diagnosis of pulmonary infections.

Given the importance of early diagnosis of HIV infection specialists SEPAR (Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery) recommend the test to detect this disease prior consent to patients presenting with suspected diagnosis of tuberculosis or pneumonia of certain . Both diseases involve the diagnosis of AIDS as experienced by HIV-infected patients.

Dr. Julio Ancochea, SEPAR president, believes that "practitioners of respiratory diseases are involved in the fight against AIDS through its early warning through involving tuberculosis and pneumonia in certain possible HIV . In Spain, are currently between 120,000 and 150,000 people infected with HIV and an estimated 25% of underdiagnosing, ie ignoring patients infected with the virus. This consideration assumes great significance as a factor that increases the risk of infection.

The figures corroborate the close realción between AIDS and respiratory infections. Over 50% of AIDS-indicative diseases affecting the lungs. In Spain, according to data from the National Registry of AIDS in 2003-2007 was 8786 cases, of which 29.2% were tuberculosis, 22.7% for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii), and 6.5% for bacterial pneumonia recurrence.

Dr. Joan Cayla, an epidemiologist and member of SEPAR provides the following figures: "In Barcelona, the 3931 cases detected from January 1994 to September 30, 2008, 32.1% were atuberculosis, 20.3% Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia 2.6% repeatability, 1.2% other mycobacterial pulmonary infections, 0.2 to bronchial or pulmonary candidiasis, 0.1% to lymphoid interstitial pneumonia, 0 , herpes simplex 1% to 0.1% and bronquial to disseminated histoplasmosis. Dr. Cayla considered, as other experts from different scientific disciplines, that "although each time there is more progress to combat the disease, the best weapon is prevention and early detection."

Recommending HIV testing to detect a respiratory illnesses mentioned, is especially relevant when further matches the high prevalence of tuberculosis in the immigrant group from certain geographic areas, a group of people who in 2007 led 20.7% of people suffering from AIDS in Spain, according to data from the National AIDS Plan. This intimate relationship between tuberculosis and AIDS reaches its maximum effect to the expectations of an increase in this figure in the coming years as 34% of newly infected HIV belongs to this group. According to official data, in 2007 there were 1345 new cases of AIDS, of whom 19.3% are immigrants.