Demographic profile and clinical features of admitted
HIV patients in a tertiary care teaching
hospital of Karachi - Pakistan

Munir Hussain Siddiqui¹, Javed Arshad Siddiqui², Iftikhar Ahmed³

Abstract

Objective: To find out the demographic profile and clinical features of HIV patient admitted in tertiary care hospital of Karachi

Methodology: All diagnosed HIV patients who required admitted care for their symptoms in Infectious Disease department of Civil Hospital, Karachi were included in this descriptive case series from January 2008 to March 2009. Patients were referred from Civil Hospital Emergency, Medical wards, Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic and Sindh Aids Control Program. Detailed history and clinical examination was performed and risk factors were evaluated.

Results:Total 52 patients were admitted during the study period which included 50 (96.2%) males and two (3.8%) females. Mean age ± SD of the patients was 33.9 ± 9.5 years. Most common symptoms were weight loss in 31 (59.6%), fever in 22 (42.3%), diarrhea in 16 (30.8) and chronic cough in 15 (28.8%) patients while the commonest sign was pallor in 33 (63.5%) followed by muscle wasting in 21 (40.4%) patients. Hepatomegaly was found in seven (13.5%) and lymphadenopathy in five (9.6%) patients. Commonest risk factor indentified was history of blood transfusion in 48 (92.3%) patients followed by intravenous drug addiction in 19 (36.5%) and foreign travel in seven (13.5) patients.

Conclusion:Majority of patients admitted with the diagnosis of HIV were males. Most common symptoms were weight loss, fever, diarrhea and chronic cough while pallor, muscle wasting, oedema and hepatomegaly were the frequent signs present. History of blood transfusion, IV drug user and foreign travel were important risk factors identified.

Key words: HIV, AIDS, Clinical features, Risk factors.

Pak J Med    Sci October - December 2009 (Part-I)    Vol. 25 No. 5    861-864

How to cite this article:

Siddiqui MH, Siddiqui JA, Ahmed I. Demographic profile and clinical features of admitted HIV patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Karachi. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(5):861-864.

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1. Dr. Munir Hussain Siddiqui, FCPS
Senior Registrar, Dept. of Infectious Diseases
2. Dr. Javed Arshad Siddiqui, FCPS
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Infectious Diseases
3. Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed, FCPS
Associate Professor, Medical Unit V,
1-3: Dow University of Health Sciences &
Civil Hospital, Karachi – Pakistan.

Correspondence:

Dr. Munir Hussain Siddiqui
Email: muneer_hus_sid@yahoo.com 

* Received for Publication: April 14th 2009
* Revision Received: May 30th 2009
* 2nd Revision Received: September 7th 2009
* Final Revision Accepted: September 11th 2009

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