Incidence of HIV-Related Pulmonary Tuberculosis In Edo State, Nigeria.

The association between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) present a grave public health and socio-economic threat in developing countries because HIV activates dormant tuberculosis and may cause death. The incidence of HIV related pulmonary tuberculosis was investigated among 405 patients (208 males and 198 females) with mean age of 29 years in Edo State, Nigeria, using microscopical and serological methods. Out of 405 patients examined, 68(16.8%) consisting of 24 males (11.6%) and 44 females (22.2%) had HIV infection. Infection in females was statistically higher than in male (P<0.05). A total of 88 (21.7%) patients had PTB disease with PTB in males as 54 (26.1%) being statically higher than that of females at 34 (17.2%) (P<0.05). Thirty-nine patients which represent 9.6% of the number examined had HIV-PTB co-infection. Although infection in females at 23 (11.6%) was higher than in males 16 (7.7%), the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Patients within the age groups of 21-30, 31-40 and 41-50 years had statistically significant high value of HIV infection (P<0.05), while patients of 20 years and below had statistically significant high PTB disease (P<0.05). HIV was statistically high among the trader (P<0.05) while PTB was statistically higher among drivers and students (P<0.05). There was statistically significant difference in the co-existence of HIV-PTB among drivers and traders (P<0.05). It seems lifestyle has a major role in the pattern of these two potentially lethal diseases.