HIV-TB co-infection with clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, outcome and its relation to CD4 count, a cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka.

introductionTuberculosis (TB) is the leading killer and the commonest opportunistic infection (OI) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals with 0.3 million deaths in 2017. When HIV and TB co-infection occurs, they form a deadly combination with each accelerating the progression of the other, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. AIM AND

objectivesTo study the demographic pattern, clinical presentation, opportunistic infections, radiological and laboratory profile, management, and outcome of HIV-TB coinfected individuals. MATERIALS AND

methodsA prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on confirmed HIV cases already diagnosed with TB and those newly detected with TB after admission, where diagnosis was carried out following standard operative procedures.

resultsIn our study of 58 HIV-TB co-infected individuals, 40-50 years was the most common age group affected. Males were affected more with majority being married. The most common presentation was fever (67%) followed by gastrointestinal symptoms. Majority of TB cases were newly diagnosed (65.5%), with predominance of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) (

conclusionIn a country like India where both these diseases are rampant, we recommend better information, education, understanding and awareness for prevention, care, early diagnosis, and treatment of these two notorious infectious diseases with prevention of relapse and default of TB cases in HIV-TB co-infected individuals a priority.