Introduction: Diarrhoea is a serious source of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Among the elderly the most risky for a severe course are patients over 65 years, as well as those with chronic diseases. Diarrhoea also prevails among patients with compromised immunity, especially those with HIV/AIDS. It is the most common gastrointestinal symptom among them.
Aim: The aim of the study is a comparative analysis of infectious and non-infectious etiology of diarrhoea in immunocompetent patients (control group) and those with HIV/AIDS.
Materials & Methods: A retrospective analysis was presented, conducted for five years (2012-2017) in the Department of "Infectious Diseases", MMA-Sofia and Hospital for infectious and parasitic diseases, Sofia. Included were 98 patients with diarrhoea, divided into two groups-HIV/AIDS and control. The methods used are: clinical study, laboratory and statistical.
Results: Of the 98 patients mentioned, 47(48%) are immunocompetent, middle-aged 46.9±15.1, of whom 23(48.9%) women and 24(51.1%) men. With a proven infectious agent are 80.9%, with predominantly bacterial etiology 86.8% (S. Enteritidis (26.3%), C. difficile (18.4%)). Non-infectious are 19.1%. Of all patients, 51(52%) are with a proven HIV-infection, middle-aged 34.7±11.1, of whom 8(15.7%) women and 43(84.3%) men. With a proven infectious agent are 54.9%, and 45.1% are non-infectious. Mycotic infections were 60.8%, followed by protozoal (21.4%).
Conclusion: Patients from control group have predominantly infectious etiology, with leading bacterial agents. Among HIV-seropositive, half of the cases are non-infectious, possibly with HIV-enteropathy. Infectious cases are with leading mycotic and protozoal pathogens.
