OBJECTIVE--To provide descriptive characteristics of AIDS in Lagos, Nigeria. METHOD--AIDS patients officially reported from reference hospitals and laboratories were analysed. Case definition used required positive HIV test by ELISA confirmation by Western Blot plus WHO Clinical case definition. RESULTS--There were 90 patients, 4 in 1989, 30 in 1990 and 56 in 1991. Age range was 7 1/2 months.-58 years, mean 30 yrs. M F ratio 3.5:1. 65% were married, 80% in monogamous marriages and 20% in polygamous marriages. 94% were Nigerian while 6% were from other West African countries. Risk factors were multiple unprotected sexual practices 85%, history of STD 15%, unscreened blood transfusion 1.0%. HIV positive partner 4.0%, HIV positive mother 2.0%. Clinical manifestations were weight loss 67%, chronic diarrhoea 60%, generalized pruritic skin lesions 50%, Herpes zoster 11%, persistent generalized lymphadenopathy 50%, Pulmonary T.B. 75%, Kaposi's sarcoma 3%, Neurological manifestation 4%. 60% died within 6 months of diagnosis. HIV-1 = 90%, HIV-2 = 10%. CONCLUSION--AIDS surveillance in Nigeria needs strengthening especially among Medical Practitioners and Health Care Workers. HIV-1 is more prevalent than HIV-2. This data also indicate that HIV infection is now a problem in Nigeria and there is need for more programmes especially in the area of education prevention and intervention to prevent further escalation of the disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*EPIDEMIOLOGY Adult Blood Transfusion Blotting, Western Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Female Human HIV Seropositivity/*EPIDEMIOLOGY HIV Seroprevalence/TRENDS *HIV-1 *HIV-2 Male Nigeria/EPIDEMIOLOGY *Population Surveillance Prevalence Risk Factors Sex Behavior ABSTRACT

www.aegis.org