COVID 19 Co-infection with HIV and Hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

Background:The COVID-19 has been a severe pandemic all around the world. During this pandemic, very few cases of SARS-CoV-2 co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C are reported. Here we report two rare cases of SARS-CoV-2 co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis C. According to the limited literature available, HIV patients co-infected with COVID-19 have a high mortality rate and poor clinical outcomes, but we report special cases of SARS -COV-2/HIV and SARS-COV2/ Hepatitis C, both cases were already on antivirals and had good clinical outcome. Methods:CASE 1 58 year old male, known case of HIV diagnosed two years ago with normal CD4+T cell count. Present- ed with chief complaints of cough and shortness of breath. On examination had respiratory rate of 28/min and spo2 89 % on room air and was hemodynamically stable. CASE 2 50 year old male, known case of Hepatitis C diagnosed one year ago presented with chief complaints of cough and shortness of breath. On examination had respiratory rate of 26/ min and spo2 91 % on room air and was hemodynamically stable. His liver function tests were mildly deranged. Sus- pecting COVID 19 pneumonitis in both the cases, samples were sent and both patients were found to be SARS -CoV-2 positive using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Both patients were already on antivirals, at the time of admission. There was no co-morbidity in both the cases and X-ray showed bilateral pneumonitis, typical of COVID 19 and CT scan showed ground glass opacities bilaterally in basal areas. Routine investigations for COVID 19 were sent and were started on i/v Remdesivir, steroids and routine treatment was given. Results:Present study supports that SARS- COV-2/HIV and SARS-COV-2/Hepatitis C co-infected patients have a favorable prognosis and less severe clinical presentation of COVID 19 when already under treatment with anti-viral therapies. Conclusions:Same as results: