Intestinal parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients: experience at a teaching hospital in central Brazil

Scand J Infect Dis. 2005;37(3):211-5. doi: 10.1080/00365540410020875.

Abstract

In order to verify the occurrence of intestinal parasitic infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, 100 HIV/AIDS patients (Group 1) and 85 clinically healthy individuals (Group 2) were submitted to coproparasitological examination. Intestinal parasites were detected in 27% of patients from Group 1 and in 17.6% from Group 2. In Group 1 the most frequent parasites were Strongyloides stercoralis (12%), with 2 cases of hyperinfection; Isospora belli, 7%; Cryptosporidium sp., 4%; with 1 asymptomatic case and hookworm, 4%. Of the infected patients from Group 1 who reported to be chronic alcoholics, 64.3% had strongyloidiasis. Only 6 of the 27 infected patients from Group 1 were on highly antiretroviral therapy (HAART). In Group 2 the most frequent parasites were S. stercoralis, 7.1%; hookworm, 7.1% and Giardia lamblia, 3.5%. In conclusion, diagnosing intestinal parasites in HIV/AIDS patients is necessary especially in those who report to be chronic alcoholics or are not on antiretroviral treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / parasitology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Eukaryota / classification
  • Eukaryota / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • Helminthiasis / epidemiology
  • Helminthiasis / parasitology
  • Helminths / classification
  • Helminths / isolation & purification*
  • Hospitals, Teaching*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / epidemiology*
  • Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protozoan Infections / epidemiology
  • Protozoan Infections / parasitology