CLINICAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV SERO POSITIVE TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN ZARIA, NIGERIA.

Dr. Tsavyange Peter Mbaave

Volume : VIII, Issue : VI, June - 2019

CLINICAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED HIV SERO POSITIVE TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN ZARIA, NIGERIA.

Dr. Tsavyange Peter Mbaave

Abstract :

Tuberculosis (TB) and Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) constitute the main burden of infectious diseases in resource–limited countries. Co–infection with both organisms alters the clinical presentation, laboratory, and radiological features of TB which poses a challenge in diagnosis hence the need to profile patients to improve index of suspicion. The study subjects were new patients who presented to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria during the study period. They underwent clinical evaluation, relevant investigations and were consecutively included in the study if the diagnosis of TB/HIV was made. Seventy five (75) patients certified the study criteria. There was a high incidence of smear negative pulmonary TB, extra pulmonary involvement as well as opportunistic infections. The mean CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4+) count of study subjects was 178 ± 116.81 cells/ul indicating severe immunosuppression. Multiple atypical chest radiological features were found in the study subjects. Oral thrush and milliary shadows best predicted advanced immunosuppression (CD4+ ≤ 200cells/l).The presence multisystem involvement and opportunistic infections should raise index of suspicion of TB/HIV co infection.