Clinical features of HIV seropositive Zambian subjects.
Data was collected from 1595 anti-HIV positive patients out of which 90% of the patients were from the Copperbelt province, and the rest from five out of the eight other provinces of Zambia. One-hundred and one positive HIV patients were less than 2 years of age, 69 were aged 2 to 14 years and 1418 were aged above 15 years. The male to female ratio was about 1:1 at all ages, except that there was an excess of males below 5 years. Of the four most frequent symptoms or signs, loss of weight or malnutrition was regarded in about 50% of seropositive patients at all ages; generalized lymphadenopathy was seen in at least 35% of all age groups and most frequently at 2-14 (60%); chronic watery diarrhoea was most common at less than 2 years (44%) and least common in older children (17%); chronic chest infections had highest frequency in children 2-14 years (59%) and lowest in adults (32%). Intensive education of children before they are sexually active is the best hope for controlling the epidemic.
Siziya
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Biostatistics Unit, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia.
Mwendapole
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Fleming
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000821:virology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000821:virology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology