HIV and parasitic infection and the effect of treatment among adult outpatients in Malawi

J Infect Dis. 2007 May 1;195(9):1278-82. doi: 10.1086/513274. Epub 2007 Mar 20.

Abstract

We measured enteric parasitic infection prevalence and the effect of treatment on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA levels to assess their importance to HIV primary care in resource-limited settings. Adults in Lilongwe, Malawi, were evaluated, treated, and followed-up for parasitic and HIV infections. Of 389 patients, 266 (68%) were HIV infected. Helminth infections were more common in HIV-uninfected than in HIV-infected patients (39% vs. 17%). Among HIV-infected patients, helminth infections were associated with higher CD4 cell counts but not with higher HIV RNA levels. Successful treatment of parasitic infections had no effect on HIV RNA levels. Although common, parasitic infections did not impact HIV RNA levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Albendazole / administration & dosage
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Helminthiasis / blood
  • Helminthiasis / complications
  • Helminthiasis / drug therapy
  • Helminthiasis / epidemiology*
  • Helminthiasis / parasitology
  • Helminthiasis / urine
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / blood
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / complications
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / drug therapy
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / urine
  • Malawi / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Medically Underserved Area
  • Metronidazole / administration & dosage
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Shedding

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • RNA, Viral
  • Metronidazole
  • Praziquantel
  • Albendazole