In the developing world, the diagnosis of tuberculosis is dependent on clinical and radiologic features as culture facilities are not readily available. It has been reported that tuberculosis in HIV-positive persons can present with atypical clinical and radiographic features. The object of this study was to examine how often atypical features occur in HIV-positive compared with HIV-negative persons and how these findings correspond to sputum-smear findings. Detailed demographic, clinical, and chest radiographic features of tuberculosis were assessed in 202 HIV-positive adults and 220 HIV-negative patients admitted consecutively. Using univariate analysis, several of these features were found to be significantly associated with being HIV-positive, but after multiple regression analysis only, age group (15 to 42 yr), a negative tuberculin response, intrathoracic lymphadenopathy, and lack of cavitation but not sputum-smear status remained significant.
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