Pattern Of Presentation Among Hiv/Aids Patients In Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Documentation and analysis of the common mode of presentation of HIV/AIDS is a major step forward in the control of the disease in our environment as these will help in diagnosis and improved modality of care. Objectives: To analyze the clinical presentation and outcome of the disease among patients managed for HIV/AIDS in Federal Medical Centre, Markurdi. Method: This is a retrospective study on HIV/AIDS patients who were admitted and managed at the Federal Medical Center, Markurdi, between October 2005 and September 2006. Results: There were 218 patients within the period under review. Ninety-four of them were males while 124 were females giving a male to female ratio of 1 to 1.3. The mean age of the patients was 35.4 years (range 14- 82 years). The mean duration of the illness before admission was 50weeks (range 3weeks - 7years). The commonest mode of presentation was oral thrush followed closely by pulmonary tuberculosis. Dermatosis was the least common form of presentation in this center. Among the 218 patients admitted, 32 of them died giving a mortality rate of 14.7%. Seventeen (53%) died of respiratory failure, 8 died of multiple organ failure and 3 died of hepatic failure. Conclusion: Patients with oral thrush and pulmonary tuberculosis should be viewed with high index of suspicion for HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, considering the high level of mortality associated with AIDS in this environment there is a need to increase surveillance for early detection and management of cases.