PREVALENCE OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS POSITIVITY IN TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS AT A MEDICAL COLLEGE

Abstract

Background: Objectives of the study were to study the prevalence of HIV positivity in tuberculosis patients, to study the difference of presentation of Tuberculosis in AIDS with that of non-immunocompromised persons, to study the risk factors among HIV infected patients and comparing the results obtained in present study with those of various studies done in India and abroad.

Materials and methods: The study was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Sheth L. G. General Hospital, Maninagar. A total of 200 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and extra- pulmonary tuberculosis were studied. The criteria for case selection were for pulmonary tuberculosis- clinical features, chest X-ray, sputum smear examination for AFB, Tuberculin skin test and for Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis-tissue biopsy, lymph node FNAC, pleural fluid examination. Details of the cases were recorded in a proforma. Data were then analysed using Microsoft excel software.

Results: Out of total 200 mycobacterium infected (TB) patients, 11 (5.5%) of patients had HIV infection. Most common age group having HIV in male and female was 21-30 years, usually those who were sexually more active. Sex wise distribution showed slightly female preponderance (54.54%). Most important mode of HIV transmission was unprotected sexual exposure. Tuberculin skin test and Sputum smear examination for AFB were positive only in 27.28 % patients. Diffuse focal infiltration in chest x- ray was the most common presentation. Pallor was found in all cases. Most of the cases showed cough, fever, weight loss, and diarrhoea.