Changing pattern of HIV infection in a tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India.

HIV seroprevalence was carried out in 42,738 individuals attending the STD Centre of a New Delhi hospital from September 1990 to December 2001. The different epidemiological parameters of the patients in Group 1 (asymptomatic HIV-seropositive individuals) and Group 2 (AIDS cases), were compared in four spans A, B, C, D. Significant rise in seroprevalence from 0.4% to 4.4% was observed with time. The patients in Group 1 were mainly 15-19 years followed by 30-44 years age group. Overall, the Male:Female ratio in Groups 1 and 2 were 3:1 and 6:1, respectively. The transmission was predominantly heterosexual in both the groups. The patients with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) emerged as the most prominent category in Group 1, showing a steady rising trend till 1999 and stabilizing thereafter. Ulcerative STIs, mainly syphilis, showed maximum association. In most of the cases, the infection was acquired by promiscuous males from female commercial sex workers or casual acquaintances and further transmitted to their spouses. Tuberculosis was the most common opportunistic infection. However, patients presented with fever, loss of weight and diarrhoea in increasing number during time D. The present study reiterates the importance of early management of STI patients and counselling of high risk groups, early partner notification and routine antenatal HIV check-up in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS infection in third world countries like India.