Characteristics of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in Brazil.

This study was conducted from July 1989 to January 1991 to gain insight into the nature of the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of AIDS in the state of Bahia Brazil. 102 male and 9 female consecutive AIDS patients of median age 34 years were evaluated at the AIDS ambulatory service of the University Hospital Professor Edgard Santos. 60% reported homosexual/bisexual activities 19% IV-drug use 6% combined homosexual/bisexual activity and IV-drug use 11% heterosexual activities and 2% blood transfusions while 2% belonged to an undetermined risk category. Weight loss fever oral thrush and diarrhea were present in more than 70% of patients at presentation. Further hepatomegaly was identified in 49% of subjects and was significantly associated with tuberculosis. In sum while the epidemiologic features of HIV transmission were comparable to that observed in the US and Europe the clinical spectrum was more reminiscent of that reported in Africa and Haiti with a greater frequency of fungal and mycobacterial infections than Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and viral infections.