Tuberculosis and Human Immuno-Deficiency Virusco-Infection in Suspected Tb Patients

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problems in Nepal and HIV has become the most potent risk factor for the progression of TB infection as HIV-positive people are more likely to develop TB when newly infected or reinfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.The study was carried out in Health Research Laboratory,Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital during October 2006 to July2007 with a general objective to determine TB/HIV co-infection cases visiting DOTS center in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Infectious and Tropical Disease Research and Prevention Center, Tripureshwor. A total of 300 patients, visiting DOTS center of TUTH, Maharajgunj and Infectious and Tropical Disease Research and Prevention Center, Tripureshwor suspected of having TB infection and risk be haviour towards HIV were included. Out of 300 patients, 79 of them were diagnosed as TB infected cases. Only sputum samples were taken to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis. Among patients diagnosed as having TB, higher number (83.54%)of male patients than female (16.45%) were found which was found to be statistically significant ( 2 = 11.47, P<0.01). Highest prevalence of TB infection was found in age group 21-30years followed by 51-60 years. About 34 patients out of 300 were recorded as HIV sero-positive among which 70.59% were males and 29.41% were females. Highest prevalence (44.12%) was found in age group 31-40 years. TB/HIV co-infected cases were found to be13 (4.33%). Out of 34 HIV sero-positive cases, 21 of them were diagnosed as not to be infected with tuberculosis. Highest prevalence of TB/HIV Co-infection (38.46%)was observed in age group 31-40 years followed by 41-50 years with 30.77%. Risk factors towards majority of TB/HIV co-infected patients were found to be IDUs and migrators. Many of the HIV infected and TB/HIV co-infected were revealed to have multiple sex partners. Regarding occupation, greater number of TB patients and HIV sero-positives were found to be involved in different services, followed by factory employee,business, housewives, drivers, agriculture etc.