Background: Opportunistic infections (OIs) are infections that take advantage of weakened immune system of the body. HIV infected patients are very prone to OI’s once the CD4 count drops below 200 cell/mm3. Thorough understanding of sensitivity to related OI management, psychological, social, and public health ramification of AIDS on the patients is very critical.Objective: To assess how Opportunistic Infections [OIs] in HIV-infected people are managed with the available set-ups and to identify the most common OIs at the study area.Methodology: A hospital based retrospective cross sectional study was conducted using well-structured data collection format by taking the ART clinic patient’s profile register cards from March 1 to 28, 2013, at Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH), Jimma, Ethiopia.Result: In this study a total of 250 patient cards were reviewed and the majority of them 141(56.4%) were females and 109(43.6%) were males. Most of the patients 102(40.8%) were aged between 31-40 years old. The study result shows that 102(40.8%) of the patients had started ART treatment at WHO clinical stage III. More than one third 98(39.2%) of patient’s CD4+ count was between 101-200 cells/ml at the initiation of ART. Whereas 74 (29.6%) of patient’s CD4+ count was between 1-100 and only 16(6.4%) patient’s CD4+ was between 301-400 at initiation of ART. The great majority of the study population 121 (88.4%) had been taking the ART treatment accordingly. According to findings of this study the most prevalent OIs 100(17.54%) was Oropharyngeal Candidiasis that is followed by all forms of tuberculosis 91(15.91%).Conclusion: In majority of cases HIV infected patients start ART treatment at WHO clinical stage III which is after the progression of the disease. Therefore, it is advaisable to revise or enhance existing HIV counseling and testing techniques to enroll infected persons as early as possible. Before initiation of the ART almost all the patients were atleast once experienced any form of OIs. The management for the majority of the cases were as per the national guideline.

Author Name: TAMIRAT HABTEWOLD, RAGHAVENDRA YARLAGADDA, *MESSAY WOLDE-MARIAM

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Keywords: Opportunistic Infections, HIV, ART, Jimma University Specialized Hospital.

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EISSN: 2231- 0541

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