Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus among tuberculosis patients in Kano, Nigeria

Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem worldwide with an estimated one third of the world's population being infected by the agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The TB problem has escalated in the last two decades in the developing countries because of the recent pandemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of HIV in TB patients. However, there is no documented study from Kano, Nigeria. Aims Therefore, this study is aimed at establishing current prevalence of HIV infection in TB patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Methods All confirmed pulmonary TB were screen for HIV. Pulmonary TB was diagnosed by microscopic examination of acid-alcohol fast bacilli stained sputum smear using the Ziel- Neelsen method. HIV was determined using Genscreen plus HIV Ag-Ab EUSA technique and confirmed by immunoconfirm technique. Results Among the 200 tuberculosis patients studied, 41(20.5%) were positive for antibodies to HIV. The highest prevalence rate was found in th age group 31 to 40 years (12%) Conclusion This study has confirmed high prevelance of HIV in patients with tuberculosis. The result shows a high HIV seroprevalence in TB patients in Kano, Nigeria. It is suggested that patients with TB should be tested for routinely for HIV.Key-words:Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Tuberculosis, Prevalence, Kano, Nigeri