Association between parasitic intestinal infections and acute or chronic diarrhoea in HIV-infected patients in Caracas Venezuela.

A cross sectional survey was conducted to determine the association between enteric parasites and diarrhoea in HIV-infected adults in Caracas. Three hundred and four patients were evaluated: 104 had acute diarrhoea 113 chronic diarrhoea and 87 were controls. Isopora belli infection was associated with acute (P=0.022) and chronic diarrhoea (P=0.003) Entamoeba histolytica/dispar infection was also associated with both acute (P=0.015) and chronic diarrhoea (P=0.017). Strongyloides stercoralis (P=0.003) and Cryptosporidium parvum (P=0.017) infections were associated mainly with chronic episodes. Weight loss (P<0.001) a non-infectious factor investigated was significantly associated with diarrhoea. Eosinophilia a laboratory parameter studied was found to be associated with strongyloidiasis (P=0.001) giardiasis (P=0.001) and isoporiasis (P=0.003). In summary the presence of enteric parasites in HIV-infected patients from tropical urban areas with diarrhoea with or without significant weight loss must be considered. Similarly eosinophilia might suggest parasitic infection in these patients. (authors)