logo
    Background : HIV is a public health issue with diarrhoea being the commonest gastrointestinal symptom especially in individuals with lower CD4+ cell counts. Most times, parasitic infections present as diarrhoea. Depending on geographical location, the pathogens responsible for diarrhoea vary. Aim : To relate the degree of immunodeficiency in HIV-infected patients to diarrhoea as a result of infestation by parasitic agent. Methods : 250 HIV positive and 250 HIV negative participants were recruited. Stool and blood samples were taken from all participants. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the stool were done while CD4+ count was estimated from the blood sample collected. Wet preparation of stool sample was done and concentrated stool was used for modified Ziehl Neelsen staining. Results : Diarrhoea was present in 200 participants, 118 of which were among the HIV positive group. Parasites were demonstrated in 82.3% of the test participants with diarrhoea and 17.7% of the controls with diarrhoea. Of the HIV positive with diarrhoea, 70.3% had a CD4 <200 cells/μl and 29.7% had a CD4 of 200-500cells/μl. Parasites in both groups were Ascaris lumbricoides, Balantidium coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Schistosoma mansoni, Hookworm, Strongyloides stercoralis and coccidian parasites though at varying frequencies. Of the 79 with parasites, 60 had single parasitosis, while 19 had multiple parasitosis. CD4 count was the only variable that correctly predicts presence of diarrhoea. Conclusion : Diarrhoea associated with parasitic infection HIV patients is a function of the immune status of the individual. Key words : People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), HIV/AIDS, diarrhoea, intestinal parasite, HAART NAIVE, immunosuppression
    Antiretroviral treatment
    Citations (1)
    Van Praet, Jens T. MD, PhD; Serrien, Ben PhD; Ausselet, Nathalie MD; Darcis, Gilles MD, PhD; Demeester, Rémy MD; De Munter, Paul MD, PhD; De Scheerder, Marie-Angélique MD, PhD; Goffard, Jean-Christophe MD; Libois, Agnès MD; Messiaen, Peter MD, PhD; Yombi, Jean Cyr MD; Van Beckhoven, Dominique MD; on behalf of the Belgian HIV Cohort Study Group Author Information
    Overall, China does not have a big HIVproblem, with only 0.05% of the total populationinfected. With 1.3 billion people, however, thisequates to an estimated 700000 infected individuals,with high rates reported among the high-risk cohortsof FPD, injection drug users, female sex workers andmen who have sex with men. Among the estimated85000 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS), 62838 have been reported as of October2007.
    Antiretroviral treatment
    Citations (71)