Changing trends in clinical presentations in referred human immunodeficiency virus infected persons in Pune, India.
OBJECTIVE
To study profile and trends of clinical presentations among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals seen in a HIV Reference Clinic in Pune.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, 3574 subjects were seen at a HIV Clinic in Pune from January 1997 to December 1999. Data on clinical presentation of 2801 (78.4%) HIV seropositive subjects were evaluated.


RESULTS
Clinical conditions like oral thrush, tuberculosis, skin rash and sexually transmitted diseases showed decreasing trends during the three years study period (p=0.03, 0.02, < 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively). Conversely a significant increase in the number of asymptomatic HIV positive persons at the time of detection was observed over the same period (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Temporal change in the clinical presentations in the HIV positive persons referred to our clinic probably reflects increased awareness and a high index of suspicion among clinicians. Early diagnosis of HIV infection in asymptomatic phase might help the clinicians to make timely decisions on prescribing chemoprophylaxis for prevention of opportunistic infections and to take appropriate measures for prevention of secondary HIV transmission to the uninfected sex partners/spouses.
Ghate
M V
MV
National AIDS Research Institute, Pune.
Divekar
A D
AD
Risbud
A R
AR
Thakar
M R
MR
Brahme
R G
RG
Mehendale
S M
SM
D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D005544:Forecasting; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology