To Study The Percentage of HIV Seropositivity in Smear Positive Tuberculosis Cases

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is the commonest opportunistic infection and the leading cause of death in HIV patients in developing countries and accounts for about 40% of all manifestations seen in HIV patients. Correct diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis helps to reduce burden of TB. However there are difficulties in achieving this goal such as difficulties in diagnosing tuberculosis in HIV infected patients due to unusual clinical picture with increase in smear negative AFB pulmonary tuberculosis and atypical findings on chest radiography. There is a paucity of literature regarding determination of percentage of HIV seropositivity in smear positive tuberculosis cases in Northern India. Hence, this study was planned to study the correlation and burden of HIV seropositivity in smear positive tuberculosis cases. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at the Chest and TB hospital, Amritsar which included 150 smear positive tuberculosis cases. HIV seropositivity was determined in all the patients. Results: In our study, the HIV seropositivity detected in 150 smear positive tubercular cases was 3.33% which is more than the prevalence seen in most of the northern states and lower than the southern and north eastern states of India. Conclusion: The HIV seropositivity detected in 150 smear positive tubercular cases was 3.33% which is more than the prevalence seen in most of the northern states and lower than the southern and north eastern states of India.