Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus: an epidemiological analysis in the city of Taubaté, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the main aspects of co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus in the city of Taubaté (located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil) in 2001 and 2002.


METHODS
This study presents epidemiological data on tuberculosis cases occurring in Taubaté in 2001 and 2002.


RESULTS
Of the 250 cases of tuberculosis analyzed, 70 (28%) presented human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity, 95 (38%) presented human immunodeficiency virus seronegativity, and 85 (34%) were patients who had not been submitted to serological testing. In the first group (tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity), males from 30 to 40 years of age predominated, the most common clinical presentation of tuberculosis was pulmonary (65.71%), and the cure rate was 59.38%. In the group of tuberculosis patients presenting human immunodeficiency virus seronegativity, males from 30 to 40 years of age also predominated, the most common clinical presentation of tuberculosis was also pulmonary (70.55%), and the cure rate was 81.63%.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the human immunodeficiency virus plays an important role in the epidemiology of tuberculosis. Therefore, serological testing for human immunodeficiency virus should be carried out when a diagnosis of tuberculosis is made.
de Carvalho
Luiz Gustavo Miranda
LG
Internal Medicine Department, Universidade de Taubaté, Taubaté, Brazil.
Buani
Anabelli Zanchetta
AZ
Zöllner
Maria Stella Amorim da Costa
MS
Scherma
Alexandre Prado
AP
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D015995:Prevalence; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology