Longitudinal study of 94 symptomatic infants with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection

Article Abstract:

The disease progression of 94 infants who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at birth was assessed after the appearance of their first clinical symptoms. Some children developed early and severe disease, whereas the illness was slow and progressive in others. Opportunistic infections, which occur when host defenses are weakened, developed early in one-third of the children. Patients with opportunistic infections had a higher incidence of severe encephalopathy, or impaired brain function, than those without these infections, and had a survival rate of 48 percent at three years. Patients without opportunistic infections or severe encephalopathy had a survival rate of 97 percent at three years. Lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis is a type of lung disease characterized by inflammation and disruption of the walls of the alveoli, the gas-exchanging units of the lungs. This disorder developed at an average age of 29 months, much later than opportunistic infections and encephalopathy. The laboratory findings correlated with clinical symptoms. A decrease in the number of CD4 cells, a type of immune cell, to less than 500 per cubic millimeter and abnormal immune responses were associated with more frequent development of life-threatening complications, such as opportunistic infections and encephalopathy. A reduction in the level of antibodies to HIV was associated with the development of severe encephalopathy. These findings show that most infants who contract HIV infection at birth have a longer survival and less severe clinical symptoms during their first years of life than was previously thought. However, a subgroup of HIV-infected infants develop early signs of severe immunodeficiency and encephalopathy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Patient outcomes, Mortality, Complications and side effects, Development and progression, AIDS (Disease) in children, Pediatric AIDS (Disease)

---

Factors correlated with homosexually acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection in the era of "safer sex": was the prevention message clear and well understood?

Article Abstract:

Certain sexual practices may be associated with an increased risk of HIV infection within the male bisexual or homosexual community. The use of safer sexual practices among homosexual or bisexual men has reduced the spread of HIV infection within this population. A study examined the sexual practices of 246 homosexual or bisexual patients of a physician who promoted safer sexual practices. The men who were HIV-positive were more likely to have had frequent receptive anal intercourse using condoms and lubricants than those who were HIV-negative. HIV-positive patients also douched more often before and after receptive anal intercourse than HIV-negative patients. A history of syphilis and the use of nitrite inhalants was associated with a higher risk of HIV infection. HIV-positive men had more male sexual partners during their lifetime and had unprotected receptive anal intercourse more often than HIV-negative men.

Sexual behavior, Usage, Risk factors, Gay men, Safe sex

---

Patterns of disclosure and perceptions of the human immunodeficiency virus in infected elementary school-age children

Article Abstract:

Children who are infected with the HIV virus undergo stress whether or not they are told about their own or their parents' infection. A survey was done of a group of 35 HIV-positive elementary school-age children, of whom 14 were showing symptoms. Of the total, six had been infected through blood transfusion and 29 had been infected through mother-fetus transmission. Few of the children knew of their mothers' infection, or the method of transmission. Most felt stress whether or not they had been told the facts.

Psychological aspects, Children, Surveys, HIV infection in children, Pediatric HIV infections, Parent and child, Parent-child relations

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Transient high levels of viremia in patients with primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. HIV-1, HIV-2, and HTLV-I infection in high-risk groups in Brazil
• Abstracts: A pilot study of low-dose zidovudine in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Plasma viremia in human immunodeficiency virus infection
• Abstracts: A pilot study of low-dose zidovudine in human immunodeficiency virus infection. part 2 Recovery of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from semen: minimal impact of stage of infection and current antiviral chemotherapy
• Abstracts: Hyponatremia in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. HIV-associated autoimmune hemolytic anemia: report of a case and review of the literature
• Abstracts: Incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma in a cohort of homosexual men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.