PREVALENCE OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among patients of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized evidence based study. STUDY SETTING: Institute of Chest Medicine, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, a tertiary care hospital affiliated to King Edward Medical University, Lahore. MATERIALS & METHODS: One thousand and seventy four patients (560 males, 514 females) who were registered for treatment of tuberculosis were enrolled for the study. The diagnosis of pulmonary TB was based on history, physical examination, X-Ray chest, sputum testing for AFB. Patients were tested for HIV initially by strip method and then confirmed by HIV Elisa technique by the National AIDS control program Center at Mayo Hospital, Lahore RESULT: Out of 1074 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, three men were HIV seropositive and all they were below the age of 40 years. CONCLUSION: Co-infection of Tuberculosis and HIV is seen in a small number of patients, in young males. Program efforts to implement comprehensive TB & HIV, services should be targeted and be able to manage this dual lethal infection.