Profile of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in People Living with HIV—A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The interface between tuberculosis (TB) and HIV is increased in countries like India where both TB and HIV infection are maximally prevalent. Worldwide, TB is the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19. Ten percent of persons infected by both TB and HIV develop TB disease annually and in one-third of them, it turns out to be fatal. HIV- tuberculosis co-infection has an atypical presentation which mostly depends on the degree of immunosuppression. Aims and Objectives: To study the socio-demographic profile, clinical manifestations, and radiological presentation with relation to the CD4 count of patients co-infected with pulmonary TB and HIV. Methodology: This is a hospital-based observational, cross-sectional study done in 100 HIV-PTB co-infected patients from Nov’2021 to Nov’2023. The study was carried out after getting Institutional ethics clearance and Informed written consent from the participants. Results: The majority (74%) were males with 75% belonging to 31–50 years of age. Fifty-eight percent had a CD4 count between 50 and 200 cells/mm 3 . Fever (90%) was the most common presenting symptom followed by cough (85%). Atypical features of TB were present in 52% of the patients. Conclusion: CBNAAT must be indicated as a primary diagnostic modality for detecting TB in PLHIV. Atypical presentations of TB on Chest X-rays are common which are attributed to low CD4 count (≤200) in the present study. Awareness regarding HIV/AIDS, safe sex practices and cough etiquette is the need of the hour.