These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: HIV and parasitic co-infections among patients seeking care at health facilities in Tanzania.
    Author: Idindili B, Jullu B, Hattendorfi J, Mugusi F, Antelman G, Tanner M.
    Journal: Tanzan J Health Res; 2011 Oct; 13(4):75-85. PubMed ID: 26592051.
    Abstract:
    Untreated tropical parasitic co-infections appear to speed the progression of HIV-1 disease. However, to date, there have been few studies conducted in resource limited settings to ascertain the interaction of parasitic co-infection where HIV/AIDS management largely depends on CD4+ T lymphocyte cells counts and WHO clinical staging. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasites, their association with CD4+ T lymphocyte cells changes and clinical manifestation of HIV-infection in patients attending HIV/AIDS management clinics in Tanzania. Adult HIV-infected patients registering for the first time at HIV/AIDS management clinics were recruited; with physical examination and laboratory tests performed at baseline and after 6 months. Patients were assigned a clinical stage and scr.eened for helminths and Plasmodium sp. co-infection, CD4+ T lymphocyte cells, haemoglobin and HIV-1 p24 antigen. Of the 421 HIV-1 infected patients studied, 198 (47.0%) were co-infected with one or more parasites. Of those studied, 93/421(22.1%) had helminth only co-infection, and 50/421 (12.9%) had Plasmodium sp only co-infection. Mixed Plasmodium sp and helminth co-inf6ction was diagnosed in 55/421 (13.0%) patients. Helminths frequently diagnosed included: hookworm 65/421(15.4%), Schistosomiasis 49/421(11.6%), Strongyloides stercoralis 57/421(13.5%), and Ascaris lumbricoides 54/421(12.8%). No statistical association was found between CD4+ T lymphocyte cells < 200/ 1, or WHO clinical stage III/ IV with parasite co-infections (AOR 1.2, 95%CI 0.8-1.8). Anaemia was common in parasite co-infected patients (32.8% vs. 18.8%). Parasite co-infection was associated with risk of anaemia (AOR 2.1, 95%CI 1.3-3.2). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte cells <200/V1 was significantly associated with CD4+ T lymphocyte cells <20041 (AOR 2.4, 95%CI 1.3-4.7) at six months. HIV-1 P24 antigen mean concentration was higher in parasite co- infected patients (ranges 47.6 to 56.9) as compared to patients without parasite co-infection (5.5). We have looked at one set of parasites and found high prevalence of malaria and helminth co-infection in HIV-infected individuals. Given the available reports on health impacts of helminth co-infection in HIV/AIDS patients and the anecdotal reports of helminths health effects in HIV-uninfected persons, helminths and other prevalent parasites should not be ignored in HIV/AIDS programs. Based on local helminth epidemiology and HIV-infected cohort specific helminths co-infection prevalence data, mass treatment of soil transmitted helminths can be incorporated into HIV/AIDS management programmes.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]