ABSTRACT
Background: According to Karnataka state HIV statistics, HIV positivity among general clients tested at ICTCs, Raichur (4.9%) had third highest proportion of HIV positive cases. Authors decided to focus on opportunistic infections (OIs) in HIV patients of Raichur district since they contribute to the mortality and morbidity.Methods: It’s a cross sectional, hospital-based study with 100 patients with HIV infections as per NACO guidelines with features of OIs were included in study.Results: In this study, 77 males (77%), 23 female (23%) patients with 58% (n=58) of them in 30-39yrs age group and 21% (n=21) in 20-29yrs were seen. Majority of cases were laborers (47%) and less educated (n=55). Symptoms included loss of appetite (76%) n=76, fever (72%) n=72, cough (55%) n=55 and diarrhoea15% (n=15). The respiratory system was most frequently involved by opportunistic infections and accounted for 56% (n=56) of the total cases and clinically consolidation/crepitation was most frequent presentation accounting for 75% (n=42). Tuberculosis was most common OI (55%) with combined pulmonary and extra pulmonary in 56.37% (n=31), tubercular meningitis and tubercular lymphadenopathy each accounting for 30.77% (n=12) amounted majority, with pleural effusion 20.52% (n=8). Median CD4+T cell count was 217.72 in TB. Candidiasis is second most common OI with 49% (n=49), median CD4 count being 190.07. Other OIs observed were pneumocystosis 16% (n=16), cryptococcosis 2% (n=2).Conclusions: Most common OI in the study was tuberculosis (in extra pulmonary TB meningitis and TB lymphadenitis) followed by Candidiasis, Pneumocystosis and Cryptococcosis.