Abstract
Introduction: A rising trend of HIV infection has been noticed among tuberculosis patients. Very few data from rural areas has been published.
Aims and objectives: To find out the prevalence of HIV infection amongst tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra pulmonary) patients at rural Government Medical College of Yavatmal, Maharashtra and to study their demographic profile.
Study design: This study was conducted in the department of Pulmonary Medicine at Government Medical College of Yavatmal, Maharashtra for four years from 2006 to 2010. All patients attending outpatient department with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis (pulmonary and extra pulmonary) were screened from 2006 to 2010. HIV seropositivity was assessed among 3118 bacteriologically, radiologically and/or histopathologically confirmed tuberculosis patients and demographic profile of 573 HIV seropositive patients were studied.
Results: HIV serpositivity rate was 17.92% (119 out of 664 patients) in 2006, 19.51% (193 out of 989 patients) in 2007, 15.78% (149 out of 944 patients) in 2008, 21.49% (112 out of 521 patients) in 2009and 21% (110 of 520) in 2010. Out of 573 seropositive patients 426 were male (74.34%) and 147 were female (25.65%).The most common age group affected was between 21-40 years i.e. 78.53%.
Conclusions: This study highlights increased rate of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients. Therefore, all patients with tuberculosis could be screened for HIV so that early detection and treatment of HIV could be done.
- © 2011 ERS
