Preventive health care for adults with HIV infection
Article Abstract:
Early identification and care of patients with HIV infection can substantially improve their health and quality of life. Currently the risk of progression to AIDS is monitored through counts of CD4 T cells, which are depleted by the action of the HIV virus. CD4 counts also are used as guidelines for starting treatment with the drug zidovudine and other treatments for preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Early treatment of PCP seems to extend the survival period, and the early detection of other opportunistic infections common among HIV patients such as cytomegalovirus retinitis and vaginal candidiasis also may be beneficial. Vaccinations for pneumococcal pneumonia, influenza and hepatitis B also appear to be well-tolerated and helpful to HIV patients. Stopping smoking and intravenous drug use also slows the progress of the disease. Counseling, group therapy and stress management may help HIV patients in coping with the psychological and social burdens associated with infection.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Risk factors for tuberculosis in HIV-infected persons: a prospective cohort study
Article Abstract:
HIV-infected people who are tuberculin-positive appear to be at high risk for acquiring active tuberculosis. Apparently the large number of cases of active tuberculosis in HIV patients is caused by the reactivation of a latent tuberculosis infection. Other risk factors include low baseline CD4 lymphocyte counts and a response to purified protein derivative-tuberculin. Researchers studied 2,695 HIV-infected people in Italy. A total of 197 patients (7.3%) were tuberculin-test positive; diagnosis of tuberculosis was proved by culture in 83 cases. The risk of tuberculosis among study participants was 4% at two years. Isoniazid therapy administered to tuberculin-positive HIV patients may decrease the risk of developing active tuberculosis.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Possible health care professional-to-patient HIV transmission: dentists' reactions to a Centers for Disease Control report
- Abstracts: Killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by neutrophils: a nonoxidative process. Clinical prediction model for differentiation of disseminated Histoplasma capsulatum and Mycobacterium avium complex infections in febrile patients with AIDS
- Abstracts: Atherosclerotic disease of the aortic arch as a risk factor for recurrent ischemic stroke. The prevalence of ulcerated plaques in the aortic arch in patients with stroke
- Abstracts: How to give a star interview: stage actors share techniques for staying poised under pressure. Three things an interviewer looks for in the first ten seconds of your interview
- Abstracts: Calling anencephalic donors dead. CDC opts to let states handle HIV-infected health workers