Prevalence Of Tuberculosis Among Hiv Positive Patients Attending Ictc In A Tertiary Care Institute In Ahmadabad, A Western City Of India

Abstract

Introduction: In India, tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection among HIV positive patients. This study estimates the prevalence of tuberculosis amongst HIV patients in Ahmadabad, Gujarat.

Methodology: The present study was conducted at Integrated Counseling and Testing Center for HIV at Sola civil hospital, a public sector tertiary care hospital in Ahmadabad for a twenty month period from January, 2009 to August, 2010. All the patients visiting the center during the study period were screened for HIV. All the patients who were diagnosed HIV positive were subjected for active search of tuberculosis; clinically, radiological as well as by histopathology and laboratory tests.

Results: Total 6846 patients were screened for HIV, out of which 167(2.44%) patients were tested HIV positive. Out of 167 HIV positive patients, 22 (13.17%) were diagnosed as cases of tuberculosis. Out of these 22 patients, 18(81.82%) had pulmonary tuberculosis while 4(18.18%) were extra-pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Amongst the four extra-pulmonary tuberculosis cases, one (25.00%) case was of tuberculous meningitis, one (25.00%) was of abdominal tuberculosis and two (50.00%) had tuberculous lymphatic swelling.

Conclusion: The prevalence of tuberculosis in HIV positive patients found in this study was 13.17%, which is substantially lower than that reported in previous studies. Appropriate management of these patients requires a strengthened mechanism of cross reference and inter sectoral co-ordination between the two diseases at all levels.

SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diseases & HIV/AIDS; 2013; X(1); 13-18

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v10i1.8672