AIDS screening in North India: clinical spectrum of HIV infection.

8 subjects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were encountered between June-December 1986 and were diagnosed as having AIDS (3) PGL (1) MLA (1) and asymptomatic HIV carrier state (3). The clinical presentation immunologic features and course of those with AIDS or PGL were similar to those reported from American European and tropical African countries with low T-helper cells reversed CD4/CD8 ratio and the presence of antibody to HIV. Asymptomatic carriers also had reversed CD4/CD8 ratio. 6 of these individuals were foreign visitors 5 from tropical African countries and 1 from the US while 2 were Indians who had frequent sexual exposure abroad in countries where AIDS is quite prevalent (1 homosexual in West Germany and other possibly had sexual exposure in Uganda). None of the 2046 Indian nationals in the high risk group screened until January 1987 without history of sexual blood or blood product exposure abroad were found to seropositive at this center in North India. These findings suggest that HIV infection is not endemic in North India. However there is a risk of spread of this infection in North India through sexual or blood contact with foreign visitors. (authors modified)