title: Mode of Detection of HIV Infection - A Retrospective Study of 612 Cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trends in mode of detection of HIV infection in the Armed Forces required to be analyzed to formulate future strategies for early detection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was thus conducted in 612 newly diagnosed HIV-positive cases between January 1997 to August 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  182(29.74%) patients had already developed Category C conditions when detected to be HIV-positive, 176(96.70%) with mycobacterial disease, majority (67.61%) of them being pulmonary tuberculosis, followed by recurrent bacterial pneumonia in 3 (1.65%), pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in 2(1.1%) and oesophageal candidiasis in one (0.55%). Herpes zoster was the third most common mode of detection accounting for 86 (14.05%) of the cases (24.6% of them with involvement of ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve), after tuberculosis in 176(28.76%) and blood donors in 98(16.01%), followed by constitutional symptoms in 59(9.64%) cases, investigation for STDs in 56(9.15%), bacterial pneumonia in 6(0.98%) and oral mucosal candidiasis in only one (0.16%) case. None was detected during acute retroviral illness and only 5(0.82%) cases were detected while being investigated for generalized lymphadenopathy. Amongst the cases detected during investigation for STDs, majority (26.79%) were on STD surveillance. 22(3.60%) cases tested positive when their spouses were detected to be HIV-positive, 20(3.27%) while being screened for surgery, 4(0.65%) for posting abroad and 2(0.32%) each during investigation when child was found HIV-positive and investigation for HBV infection. Remaining 69(11.27%) patients were detected during investigation of various related or unrelated conditions including one (0.16%), which reported voluntarily after a high-risk exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need to encourage voluntary reporting and identify more number of cases during acute retroviral syndrome and PGL stage.
authors.affiliation: Senior Advisor (Dermatology and STD), Base Hospital, Delhi Cantt.
authors.lastname: Sawhney
authors.affiliation: Commandant, Military Hospital, Roorkee.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Ex-Senior Advisor (Dermatology and STD), Military Hospital, Jalandhar Cantt.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sayal
keywords: HIV infection; Mode of detection