SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS IN TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN WEST BENGAL: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

BACKGROUND Objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of HIV infection in pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients to study the presentation of tuberculosis in HIV seropositive patients and to study the risk factors for HIV among HIV infected patients. METHODS The study was carried out at the Pulmonary Medicine Department, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. A total of 200 tuberculosis patients were studied. Criteria for case selection was clinico-bacteriological confirmed cases of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients and they were selected for HIV serology testing according to NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) guideline. Data were then analysed using Microsoft excel software. RESULTS Among 200 TB patients, 17 were found to be HIV seropositive (8.5%). Among 21 tuberculosis patients who gave history of contact with CSW (Commercial sex worker), 12 (57.1%) were found to be HIV seropositive. Fever, cough, significant weight loss and lymph node swelling were most common presentations of both TB and HIV. 12.9% patients of extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients were HIV seropositive in comparison to 5.7% HIV seropositivity of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Among 153 male tuberculosis patients 15 (9.8%) and among 47 female tuberculosis patients two (4.25%) were HIV seropositive. 32.5% were in the age group of 20-49 yrs. CONCLUSION Extrapulmonary tuberculosis patient showed high seropositivity rate. Unprotected sexual exposure was the most common mode of transmission among tuberculosis patient.