Abstract :
Background: HIV/AIDS is an important public health problem which may also result in respiratory
manifestations. The common respiratory manifestations include tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, PCP
and others.
Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken in order to study the respiratory
manifestations of the HIV/AIDS. A total of 80 patients attending Chest and TB OPD of Basaveshwara
Medical College and Hospital were studied in detail about the respiratory manifestations. A thorough
clinical history and physical examination was conducted on all the patients including laboratory and
radiological investigations.
Results: Almost half of the cases were aged between 21 – 30 years and males outnumbered females in this
study. Tuberculosis, non-tubercular pneumonitis and Kaposi sarcoma of the lungs was common in patients
with CD4 counts of less than 250. The patients with CD4 counts of more than 250 had bacterial pneumonia,
pneumocystitis carinii pneumonia, Cryptococcus pneumonia. Streptcoccus pneumonia in patients with CD4
counts less than 250 and Staph aureus was the common agent in patients with CD4 count of more than 250.
Conclusion: Prompt recognition of manifestations of chest and prompt treatment in HIV/AIDS patients
improves the prognosis of the disease.
Keyword :
HIV/AIDS, Chest manifestations, Tuberculosis, Pneumonia, CD4 count.