Tuberculosis and HIV infection in southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract:

A health institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Shashemene town, southern Ethiopia, between September, 1993 and January, 1994 to determine the sero-prevalence and the clinical impact of HIV among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. The HIV-antibody was determined using the two ELISA procedures (Wellcozyme, Wellcome Diagnostics, Dartford Kent England, and Du-pont assay, Singapore). A total of 450 tuberculosis patients aged 15 years and above were enrolled in the study. The overall HIV-seroprevalence rate was 44.4%. The highest rate was observed in the age group 20-39 years. A slightly higher HIV-infection rate was found in males (46%) than in females (41%). Those divorced and widowed patients had higher proportion of HIV sero-positivity. The HIV positivity rate was higher for extra-pulmonary than pulmonary form of tuberculosis (OR = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.49, 9.7 ). Higher proportions of sputum positive patients were HIV-positive compared to the sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients (OR=1.09; 95% CI: 0.64,1.85) though they manifested typical radiographic features (OR = 7.87; 95% CI: 4.39, 14.21). Significant differences were noted among HIV positives than HIV negatives in manifesting herpes zoster, lymphadenopathy, oral candidiasis, peripheral paraesthesia and chronic diarrhoea. An alternative diagnostic approach is required to avoid missing HIV-related tuberculosis which is communicable to the general population. Other findings are discussed and recommendations made. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1997;11(1):51-59]