Clinical and demographic profile of HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed at a tertiary care centre in Kashmir.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and demographic profile of HIV/AIDS patients diagnosed at a tertiary care centre.


METHODS
The study was conducted on a group of 1141 patients suspected of having HIV/AIDS on clinical grounds. Screening was done using different Elisa's as advised by NACO and those confirmed as HIV positive were studied for their clinical spectrum and different demographic parameters.


RESULTS
Out of 1141 patients tested, 26 proved to have HIV 1 infection with no case of HIV 2 detected. Mean age of presentation was 40.04 +/- 7 years, main age group affected 31-40 years and a male: female ratio of 4.2:1 was observed. More than 42% were non Kashmiris with armed forces outnumbering all other occupational classes. Heterosexual transmission was the commonest with married out numbering unmarried. Fever, asthenia and weight loss were the predominant symptoms and pulmonary tuberculosis and oropharnygeal candidiasis commonest opportunistic infections.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and demographic profile of HIV/AIDS patients in Kashmir is largely similar to the rest of India. Kashmir no longer stands immune to the menace of HIV/AIDS. With increasing globalization, frequent travel and change in social values the state is likely to witness an alarming rise in new cases unless a multipronged approach is undertaken to control the spread.
Department of Medicine, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Kashmir, India.
Mubarik Ahmad
MA
Mir
Peer Maroof
PM
Ahmad
Mushtaq Ahmad
MA
Siddeque
Fayaz Ahmad
FA
Sofi
Syed Nisar
SN
Ahmad
Mushtaq Rasool
MR
Dar
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors