Some clinical and epidemiological aspects of HIV/ hepatitis C coinfection

Abstract

Aim . To study some clinical and epidemiological aspects of HIV/hepatitis C coinfection in the Republic of Tajikistan. Materials and methods . The material for the study was the data from clinical, epidemiological and virological examinations of 70 patients with HIV/hepatitis C coinfection. In all observed patients, the diagnosis was confirmed based on clinical and epidemiological data and confirmed by rapid testing, ELISA, and PCR. Results discussion . The disease in patients with HIV/hepatitis C coinfection clinically proceeds with weakness and general malaise (92.8%), loss of appetite (67.1%), heaviness in the liver (45%), heartburn (25%), bitterness in the mouth (19%), nausea and anorexia (32.8%), bleeding from the gums (13%), yellowness of the sclera (11.4%), weight loss (41.4%), hepatomegaly (83%). Opportunistic pathology is represented by candidiasis (32.8%), herpes infection (22.8%), CMV (7.1%), pneumocystis pneumonia (4.2%), Kaposi’s sarcoma (4.2%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (1.4%). People who practice intravenous drug administration, as well as their sexual partners, are more likely to be infected. It has been established that males under the age of 45 predominate among coinfected patients. As for secondary and opportunistic infections, they are associated with a decrease in the immune status in the face of CD4+ - lymphocytes in patients with coinfection. Conclusion . The studies carried out make it possible to identify the category of people most at risk of infection with HIV and hepatitis C, which must be taken into account when screening the population. Early diagnosis of HIV/ hepatitis C coinfection will help reduce the number of complications and mortality in this category of patients.