Clinical experience with patients of HIV/AIDS in two hospitals in Karachi

ABSTRACT

The clinical course of 67 patients with HIV/AIDS is analysed The number of cases between 2001-2002 almost doubled compared with the number between 1991-2000 Previous reports from Pakistan described cases in heterosexual men who had either lived or traveled to countries with high HIV prevalence and exposed to commercial sex workers Our report shows a rise in the number of cases acquired within Pakistan which includes wives and neonates Highly active retroviral therapy is available but at a prohibitive cost and hence most patients are deprived of its benefits The majority of patients are treated symptomatically for opportunistic infections Most cases are diagnosed late because of ignorance on the part of patients and physicians There is a great need for early diagnosis in order to improve quality of the and limit its spread Public awareness and physician training in the subject must be stressed