Description

ABSTRACT

           Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in adults aged 15-49 years in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). The interaction between tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS makes the diagnosis and management of the confection difficult. A cross sectional hospital based study was conducted at Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH) to assess the interaction between tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis HIV/AIDS coinfection in relation to the CD4 T cells. Furthermore, CD4 T cell counts in healthy subjects in different age groups were determined for the purpose of establishing reference values. Physical examination and investigation including sputum for fluorescence microscopy and culture, tuberculosis drugs susceptibility testing and Chest X-Ray (CXR) were done for all tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS patients. Sputum samples were stained using aura mine and examined by fluorescence microscopy. Sputum culture was done using Lowenstein Jensen media and sensitivity to the first line TB drugs was tested.