Clinical features of HIV seropositive Zambian subjects

Data was collected from 1595 anti-HIV positive patients out of which 90% of the patients were from the Copperbelt province, and the rest from five out of the eight other provinces of Zambia. One-hundred and one positive HIV patients were less than 2 years of age, 69 were aged 2 to 14 years and 1418 were aged above 15 years. The male to female ratio was about 1:1 at all ages, except that there was an excess of males below 5 years. Of the four most frequent symptoms or signs, loss of weight or malnutrition was regarded in about 50% of seropositive patients at all ages; generalized lymphadenopathy was seen in at least 35% of all age groups and most frequently at 2-14 (60%); chronic watery diarrhoea was most common at less than 2 years (44%) and least common in older children (17%); chronic chest infections had highest frequency in children 2-14 years (59%) and lowest in adults (32%). Intensive education of children before they are sexually active is the best hope for controlling the epidemic.