The association of intestinal parasites with chronic diarrhoea in adult AIDS patients in North-Eastern Tanzania.
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Date
1995
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
A study on the association of intestinal parasites with chronic diarrhoea among adult AIDS patients was conducted in the North-Eastern zone of Tanzania. Diarrhoea was found to be a major problem among the patients. More than 70% of the patients had diarrhoea during their illness. Intestinal parasites were detected in 123 out of 352 (34.9%) patients. The proportion of patients with intestinal parasites and chronic diarrhoea was 62.6% (77 out of 123). The prevalence of chronic diarrhoea in patients who were in clinical stage III-IV of AIDS was highest among patients harbouring parasites that are known to cause diarrhoea. The association of diarrhoeagenic parasites (combined together) with chronic diarrhoea was found to be statistically significant. The adjusted associations were also found to be statistically significant. Cryptosporidiums Isospora belli and Strongylostercoralis were only isolated from patients with chronic diarrhoea. It was concluded that chronic diarrhoea was a major complaint of adult AIDS patients in North-Eastern Tanzania. Parasites known to cause diarrhoea considered together were the most likely cause of chronic diarrhoea in such patients. Cryptosporidium spp, Isospora bell, and Strongyloides stercoralis were the most likely cause of chronic diarrhoea among the patients. Development of clinical infection due to parasites known to cause diarrhoea was found to be related to the immunological status (clinical stage) of the AIDS patients. It is recommended to strengthen home based care for AIDS patients as well as laboratory facilities at all levels of health care delivery centres for diagnosing specific intestinal parasites in AIDS patients so as to institute specific therapies thereby improving the quality of life of such patients. A comprehensive case-control study, to establish cause and effect of the various agents isolated from AIDS patients with chronic diarrhoea is proposed. There is a need to determine the type of drugs which will be suitable for the treatment of opportunistic infections which may interact with AIDS in our set up.
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Keywords
Intestines, Parasites, Diarrhea, AIDS, Tanzania
Citation
Tarimo, D. S. (1995). The association of intestinal parasites with chronic diarrhoea in adult AIDS patients in North-Eastern Tanzania. Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam. Available at (http://41.86.178.3/internetserver3.1.2/search.aspx?formtype=advanced)