Title: INCIDENCE OF ENTERIC PATHOGENS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CRYPTOS P ORIDIOSIS IN HIV INFECTED PATIENTS WITH DIARRHOEA
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Opportunistic infections (0.Is) have been recognized as common complications of HIV infection since the beginning of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic.Infection of gastro intestinal tract leading to chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition is quiet common in patients with AIDS.AIMS: This study was conducted to identify the demography, the common etiological agents and various emerging pathogens causing diarrhoea in HIV infected individuals with special reference to cryptosporidiosis.Methods and materials: Study was conducted on 100 HIV positive cases with diarrhoea and 100 HIV negative patients with diarrhoea as controls.Detailed demographic data and clinical history was taken.The identification of pathogens was done on the basis of direct microscopy and different staining techniques.RESULTS: Enteric infections were detected in 81% of the stool samples of HIV-positive diarrhoea patients and in 30% of HIV-negative patients with diarrhoea.Cryptosporidium was isolated from 56 out of 100 HIV positive cases with diarrhoea while the isolation rate is only 16% in HIV negative controls.Most among HIV positive cases with diarrhoea were illiterates and hail from rural areas.CONCLUSION: Infection of Cryptosporidium was significantly higher among HIV-positive subjects with diarrhoea.Screening for these infections is therefore essential for early diagnosis and treatment.