Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a leading infectious cause of adult
death in the world. Untreated disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
has a case fatality, which approaches 100%.1 The burden of disease is heaviest in Africa.
Out of 28 millions deaths due to AIDS world wide at the end of 2002, 70% have occurred
in this continent.2 The first case of AIDS in Pakistan was reported in 1987 in Lahore. Late
in 1980-90 it became evident that increasing number of Pakistani men were becoming
infected with HIV while living or traveling abroad. The estimated number of HIV/AIDS
cases in Pakistan in age 15 to 45 years, by year 2003 was 74,000.3
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