Publication: Clinical features of HIV/AIDS and various opportunistic infections in relation to antiretroviral status among HIV seropositive individuals from Central Nepal
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Abstract
Background: So far, antiretroviral therapy is the only effective treatment available to HIV/AIDS patients. Provision
of combined package of treatment, care and support service as well as regular assessment of the therapy increases its
effectiveness.
Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between antiretroviral therapy status and clinical
features/opportunistic infections among HIV seropositive individuals.
Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Study was carried out between October 2007 and May 2008 in
150 HIV patients of Kathmandu, Central Nepal. After taking informed consent pre-structured questionnaire was filled to
assess clinical features and specimen were collected to investigate major OIs as per standard microbiological procedure.
All the information were entered into SPSS 11.5 system and analysed.
Result: Of the 150 patients, 100 (66.7%) were males and 50 (33.3%) were females. The age group 21-30 years was
predominant followed by 31-40 years (42%). Significant relationship could be established between intake of ART and
cardinal symptoms of HIV/AIDS (χ2 value ranging from 4.11 to 9.34). However, no significant relationship could be
established between the intake of ART and distribution of different OIs (χ2 values ranging from 0.15 to 1.6).
Conclusion: Antiretroviral therapy was found to effective enough to reduce the clinical features of AIDS. Diagnosis and
treatment of opportunistic infections should be routinely done for both groups of patients.
Key words: Antiretroviral therapy, CD4 count, HIV/AIDS, Nepal
Description
Sharma S 1, Dhungana GP 2, Pokherel BM3, Rijal BP3
1Professor, Department of Medicine, 3Department of Microbiology ,Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2Department of Microbiology, Siddhanath Science Campus, Mahendranagar, Nepal.