Cases Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Research Articles

The Brazilian army and the low prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in women of the military garrison of Campinas between 2017 to 2020: a prospective, cross-sectional epidemiological study.

Given the characteristics of military missions, intense interpersonal contact, and wide variation in casual relationships, the military has long been recognized as a high-risk population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To assess the prevalence of STIs and socioepidemiological profile of women in the military garrison of Campinas. This prospective, cross-sectional epidemiological study, assisted by the Health Fund in the military garrison of Campinas, assessed the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, and gonococcus in military women or companions of soldiers with active or previously active sexual life. This study included 647 women based on the non-inclusion criteria. They underwent clinical and laboratory tests for diagnosis of STIs. For statistical analysis, patients were divided into groups according to the presence or absence of STIs and into age groups. Most women were military dependents, and the majority were asymptomatic. The prevalence of STIs, in ascending order, was 0.3% for hepatitis B and C, 0.62% for syphilis, 0.62% for gonorrhea, 1.08% for chlamydia, and 2.63% for HPV. There were no cases of HIV infection. The Brazilian Army has the most women-like dependents in the military, belonging to the hierarchical circle of the squares. Early onset of sexual activity favored STIs approximately twice, and younger women had approximately seven times more chlamydia infections. In the general population studied, the prevalence of STIs was lower than expected than in the armed forces of other nations.

Four cases of HIV infection in men taking pre-exposure prophylaxis in Singapore

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with co-formulated tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) is an effective prevention strategy against sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in at-risk populations.1 It can be taken daily, or on-demand for cisgender men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen who have sex with men.2 In spite of this, breakthrough infections have still been reported.3,4 Additionally, despite PrEP being available in Singapore for several years, accurate Singapore data on its utilisation is lacking.5 A Singapore study in February 2018 found that only 15% of MSM on a geosocial networking application (Grindr) had used PrEP.6 However, to our knowledge, there are no published Singapore cases on PrEP failures. We present 4 such cases (Table 1).

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and HIV Infections in Hemodialysis Patients at Kano Kidney Center.

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are more prevalent in hemodialysis patients compared to the general population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections in hemodialysis patients dialyzing regularly at Kano Kidney Center (KKC) in the Eastern Health Cluster of Saudi Arabia in 2022. Methods This retrospective study included all hemodialysis patients who were dialyzed regularly at KKC during 2022. Their electronic medical records were reviewed for the results of HBV, HCV, and HIV along with the patient's demographics, comorbid conditions, and dialysis history. The study was approved and monitored by the Institutional Review Board of Dammam Medical Complex. Results A total of 239 regular hemodialysis patients were included, consisting of 142 males and 97 females (59.41% and 40.59%, respectively), with a mean age of 52.71±15.83 years. Most of the patients were Saudis (156 patients, 65.27%) with the non-Saudi patients being composed mostly of Arabian patients.Nine patients (3.77%) tested positive forhepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the serologic hallmark of HBV infection. Two patients (0.84%) had resolved HBV infections as evidenced by positive hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). However, the majority (226 patients, 94.56%) were never tested for anti-HBc. Anti-HBs, which can imply long-term immunity against HBV from prior immunizations or infections, were positive in 165 patients (69.04%). A protective anti-HBs level of ≥ 10 IU/L was detected in 158 patients (66.11%) including 104 patients (43.51%) having ≥ 100 IU/L. Eighteen patients (7.53%) had reactive HCV antibodies. Four patients (1.67%) had chronic HCV infection as they had detectable HCV RNA. The remaining 14 patients (5.86%) cleared HCV either spontaneously (seven patients, 2.93%) or by medications (seven patients, 2.93%). HIV screening tests were negative in all 239 patients (100%). HBsAg-positive patients did not have any statistically significant differences from HBsAg-negative patients. On the other hand, the patients who were positive for HCV antibodies were older than the patients who were negative for HCV antibodies (60.66 vs 52.05 years on average, p-value <0.05). They also contained a statistically larger proportion of non-Saudi patients than the patients with no evidence of prior infections (61.11% vs 32.13%, p-value <0.05). Conclusions The study found that the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among hemodialysis patients in KKC at 3.77% and 1.67%, respectively, is higher than that reported in the general populationin Saudi Arabia, with non-Saudis having a higher prevalence rate of HCV infection than Saudis.However, the current prevalence rate is lower compared to the previous studies that were conducted in Saudi Arabia in the first decade of the 21st century, and there were no cases of HIV infections. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of patients had unprotective or negative anti-HBs antibody titers, indicating the need for strict vaccination protocols and monitoring of antibody titers to ensure optimal protection.

Epidemiological Analysis of HIV/AIDS in Kazakhstan During 2018-2020.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a severe threat to public health everywhere, including the Central Asian region and Kazakhstan. The aim of the study was to conduct an epidemiological analysis of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection during 2018-2020. A case series study. A descriptive analysis of national data on registered cases of HIV in Kazakhstan was conducted, and demographic information was collected and studied accordingly. The analysis of the influence of age, period, and cohort was performed using the age-period-cohort method. Based on the results, men prevailed (68.5%) among all cases of HIV infection (n=1235). Sexual transmission during heterosexual contact was higher in females (88.9%, P=0.005), and the number of new cases as a result of homosexual contact was higher in men (23.0%, P=0.087). In addition, the parenteral route of HIV transmission cases prevailed among men (27.5%, P=0.001), and intravenous drug administration was more common among males (27.4%, P=0.01). Moreover, 68.5% of men and 33.2% of women had a low therapy adherence. In men, the risk of HIV prevalence increased after 32.5 years (deviation [Dv]: 0.134, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.096 to 0.364). At the age of 37.5 years, there was an increase (Dv: 0.852, 95% CI=0.626 to 1.079) in HIV prevalence. However, no peaks were observed in women. Our findings indicated a rise in the prevalence of HIV infection in Kazakhstan. Men aged 37 and older were identified as the risk category. Eventually, inadequate adherence to treatment was observed in HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

Mpox: Fifty-Nine Consecutive Cases from a Mexican Public Hospital; Just the Tip of the STIs Iceberg.

Monkeypox (Mpox) is a zoonotic viral infection endemic to Africa, which has caused a global outbreak since April 2022. The global Mpox outbreak is related to Clade IIb. The disease has primarily affected men who have sex with men. Skin lesions are concentrated in the genital area, with lymphadenopathy as well as concurrent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is an observational study of adult patients with a recent development of skin lesions and systemic symptoms, which could not be explained by other diseases present. Fifty-nine PCR-positive patients with prominent skin lesions in the genital area (77.9%), inguinal lymphadenopathy (49.1%), and fever (83.0%) were included. Twenty-five (42.3%) were known to be living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 14 of the HIV-naïve subjects (51.9%) were found to be positive during workup, totaling 39 (66.1%) patients with HIV. Eighteen patients (30.5%) had concurrent syphilis infections. It is worrisome that Mpox is present in large metropolitan areas of Mexico, but the underlying growth of cases of HIV infection and other STIs has not been well studied and should be evaluated in all at-risk adults and their contacts.

Thyroid Function in Newly Diagnosed HIV-positive Patients.

As of 2019, the highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in India is seen in the Northeastern states. Endocrine and metabolic disturbances can occur in HIV infection. Thyroid dysfunction is one of the common endocrinopathies. In HIV infection, thyroid function abnormalities are seen in about 4-35% of adult patients. Thyroid function abnormalities range from overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and sick euthyroid syndrome to overt hyperthyroidism. Among them, subclinical hypothyroidism is the commonest abnormality. To our knowledge, there have been no studies from Northeastern India done in this regard. To study the thyroid function in newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) center, Assam Medical College. To estimate the prevalence and types of thyroid dysfunction in newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals. To study thyroid dysfunctions with respect to age, sex, and cluster of differentiation (CD) 4 count. Hospital-based observational study was done at a tertiary care centre of upper Assam on newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients who were not started on antiretroviral therapy and who attended the ART centre, Assam Medical College during the period of our study. History, examinations and laboratory investigations, including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and CD4 count, are done in all such patients, and only those who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria of our study are taken as study participants, and their findings tabulated. A total of 95 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria of our study were taken. In our study, a total of 36.84% of the patients had thyroid dysfunction. We got subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, sick euthyroid syndrome, and overt hyperthyroidism as the types of thyroid dysfunction. Among all the types of thyroid dysfunction, subclinical hypothyroidism was the commonest abnormality in our study. Under sick euthyroid syndrome, we got only low FT3 as the biochemical abnormality. Thyroid dysfunctions were more common in females (42.3%) than males (35.8%) and were more common in the age group of 30-39 years. In the present study, among patients with thyroid dysfunction, it was seen that 51.43% of the patients had a CD4 cell count in the range 101-200 cells/mm3, whereas only 11.43% of patients had a CD4 cell count in the range &lt;50 cells/mm3 and no patient had a CD4 cell count &gt;500 cells/mm3 . In our study, we found that thyroid dysfunctions were common in newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients, the prevalence of which was much higher in the general population. Thyroid dysfunction was present in all the stages of the HIV disease.

Universal Repeat Screening for Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

To assess the cost effectiveness of universal repeat screening for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the third trimester of pregnancy. A decision-analytic model was constructed to compare two strategies: screening for HIV infection in the first trimester alone compared with the addition of repeat screening in the third trimester. Probabilities, costs, and utilities were derived from the literature and varied in sensitivity analyses. The assumed incidence of HIV infection in pregnancy was 0.0145% or 14.5 per 100,000. Outcomes included costs (in 2022 U.S. dollars), maternal and neonatal quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and cases of neonatal HIV infection. Our theoretical cohort contained 3.8 million pregnant individuals, the approximate number of births per year in the United States. The willingness-to-pay threshold was set at $100,000/QALY. We performed univariable and multivariable sensitivity analyses to determine inputs that most influenced the model. Universal third-trimester screening prevented 133 cases of neonatal HIV infection in this theoretical cohort. Universal third-trimester screening led to an increased cost of $17.54 million and 2,732 increased QALYs, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $6,418.56 per QALY, less than the willingness-to-pay threshold. In a univariate sensitivity analysis, third-trimester screening remained cost effective with variation of HIV incidence in pregnancy to as low as 0.0052%. In a theoretical U.S.-based cohort of pregnant individuals, universal repeat screening for HIV infection in the third trimester was found to be cost effective and to reduce vertical transmission of HIV. These results merit consideration of a broader HIV-screening program in the third trimester.

Possibility of Decreasing Incidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Korea.

The number of newly diagnosed cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Korea, which had increased until 2019, has markedly decreased since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic started. This study evaluated whether the decrease is due to a reduction in the incidence of HIV infection and/or delayed diagnosis during the pandemic. We reviewed the medical records of 587 newly diagnosed patients with HIV infection between February 2018 and January 2022 from four general hospitals, and their characteristics were compared between the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. The lapse time from infection to diagnosis was estimated using an HIV modeling tool. The estimated mean times to diagnosis were 5.68 years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.45 - 6.51 years) and 5.41 years (95% CI: 4.09 - 7.03 years) before and during the pandemic, respectively (P = 0.016). The proportion of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illnesses, expected to visit hospitals regardless of the pandemic, decreased from 17.2% before the pandemic to 11.9% during the pandemic (P = 0.086). The decrease in the number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection in Korea might have resulted from an actual decrease in the incidence of HIV infection rather than a worsening of underdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

A Case of Bilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Accompanying Unilateral Acute Otitis Media as a First Presentation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

The etiologies of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) include idiopathic, viral infections, vascular occlusion, abnormal cellular stress responses within the cochlea, and a variety of immune-mediated mechanisms. Although idiopathic cause is most common, many studies have proposed a possible association between SSNHL and viral infections, including herpes simplex virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), rubella, mumps, and so on. Particularly, various mechanisms underlying auditory dysfunction in the HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome have been proposed. Herein, we present the case of a 35-year-old male diagnosed with sudden hearing loss on both sides and left acute otitis media, presenting first in the left ear, in which subsequent serological examination revealed HIV infection. It is a case of HIV infection diagnosed after identifying the involvement of the 8th cranial nerve as the first symptom in the absence of any other HIV infection-associated symptoms.

Aligning an emergency department hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus testing quality improvement initiative with universal screening recommendations

The interactions among hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and the ongoing injection drug epidemic have created a syndemic that significantly affects the Appalachian region of the United States. The purpose of this work is to describe a successful Kentucky program that aimed to increase HCV and HIV testing for people visiting an urban emergency department (ED) who were screened, diagnosed, and linked to care after diagnosis with special consideration for substance use disorder. The Plan-Do-Study-Act model for quality improvement was used to create a streamlined process for testing, reporting results, and linking people to care. The program was refined and expanded across 3 phases. Across all phases, a total of 25,685 patients were eligible for testing and did not opt out. Of those, 17,090 had HCV antibody (Ab) testing; 3460 (20.2%) had HCV Ab; 1750 (50.8%) had HCV RNA, and an average of 31% of patients were linked to care within 30 days. The program found 54 new cases of HIV infection. Universal HCV and HIV testing and linkage to care is possible within an ED. In areas affected by the syndemic, EDs may serve as a public health safety net to identify affected individuals and ensure they receive follow-up care. Testing in this center uncovered an exceptionally high prevalence of HCV infection and new HIV case identification.

Real-life cohort experience after implementing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for one year in northwest Spain.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has become a useful tool to reduce the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in key populations. In this article we assessed the effectiveness, safety, adherence, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) dynamics, and frequency of anal dysplasia among a real-life cohort of PrEP users in Northwest Spain. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken in the Alvaro-Cunqueiro Hospital, Vigo which included every individual who started daily emtricitabine/tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (FTC/TDF) between November-2019 and October-2021. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from the patient's medical records. The effectiveness and safety of FTC/TDF were assessed by HIV serology and renal function monitoring every 3 months. Anal, urethral, and oropharyngeal exudates were collected quarterly after the baseline visit. A total of 126 individuals were considered eligible, most of the participants had previously been diagnosed with a STI (60.3%), 22% had consumed recreational drugs in the year prior, and 13% had engaged in chemsex. At the end of the follow-up, no cases of HIV infection were detected; 3 patients had discontinued FTC/TDF because of side effects but none of them had presented renal toxicity. In addition, the diagnosis of STIs during the follow-up was common (100 cases in 54 patients). Moreover, engagement in chemsex was more common within this latter group (22 vs. 6%, p = 0.013). Among the study population included in the anal screening programme, the frequency of dysplasia was 9%. FTC/TDF was effective, safe, and tolerable in a real-life cohort; adherence remained high throughout the study period (79%). However, a high number of STIs were diagnosed, especially among patients who engaged in chemsex.

PENGETAHUAN MAHASISWA UNIVERSITAS JEMBER TENTANG HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In Indonesia, the number of people infected with HIV reaches 50,282 while the number of people with AIDS is 7,036. East Java is the province with the highest number of HIV infection cases in Indonesia, while AIDS is in the third position. Jember Regency is the fifth largest district/city reporting AIDS cases in East Java Province. Knowledge is closely related to attitude. Good knowledge will affect a positive attitude, and vice versa. Stigma can be formed because there is no knowledge about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted. Ignorance causes fear so that an attitude of rejection is formed towards People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This study aims to determine the knowledge of students at the University of Jember towards HIV/AIDS. This research was conducted in 2021 with a cross-sectional research design. Data was collected online based on a questionnaire adapted from Shokoohi et al. (2016). There were 378 students involved in the study. There were 24 questions about HIV/AIDS. The level of knowledge was divided into 3: low (correct score ≤ 12), medium (correct score 13-18) and high (correct score ≥ 19). A total of 80.2% of students have a high level of knowledge. Most of the respondents knew the main routes of HIV transmission and answered correctly about the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is necessary to conduct a follow-up reseach in a broader population.

Mathematical Model of HIV/AIDS Considering Sexual Preferences Under Antiretroviral Therapy, a Case Study in San Juan de Pasto, Colombia.

While several studies on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the homosexual and heterosexual population have demonstrated substantial advantages in controlling HIV transmission in these groups, the overall 2benefits of the models with a bisexual population and initiation of antiretroviral therapy have not had enough attention in dynamic modeling. Thus, we used a mathematical model based on studying the impacts of bisexual behavior in a global community developed in the PhD thesis work of Espitia (2021). The model is governed by a nonlinear ordinary differential equation system, the parameters of which are calibrated with data from the cumulative cases of HIV infection and AIDS reported in San Juan de Pasto in 2019. Our model estimations show which parameters are the most influential and how to modulate them to decrease the HIV infection.

HIV and pregnancy: realities of XXI century

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed 34 million lives so far. 38 million people are living with HIV around the world. 2 million of these people are children. The high medical, social and economic significance of HIV infection is determined by the widespread and severe course of the disease. Every year, up to 2.7 million new infections are registered worldwide. Up to 30 % of cases of HIV infection in pregnant women are detected for the first time during pregnancy-related examinations. Every year, 1.49 million babies are born to HIV-positive women worldwide. The current tasks are to preserve the health of women and reduce the risk of transmission of HIV infection from mother to child. The article analyzes the results of Russian and foreign studies concerning the problems of pregnant HIV-positive women, published in international databases. The aim of the work is to analyze the data of studies aimed at studying the effect of HIV infection on the course of pregnancy.

“Pattern of Sexually Transmitted Infections: Treated in A Private Clinic at Dhaka, Bangladesh”

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), continue to present major health, social, and economic problems in the developing world, leading to considerable morbidity, mortality, stigma and long-term disability, economic loss and death throughout the world. Despite the availability of effective treatment and preventive measures, incidence of STIs is increasing even in developed countries. Objectives: To determine the pattern of sexually transmitted infections in patients presenting with genital symptoms. Material and Methods: A cross sectional, descriptive study was carried in the Dermatology-Venereology Clinic of Holy Lab Diagnostic &amp; Consultation Centre, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January to December 2019. During one year period, a total of 140 consecutive cases were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of infections was made clinically with relevant laboratory investigations and they were interviewed for their sexual behaviour after taking consent and assuring confidentiality. Results: A total of one hundred forty (140) patients who presented with genital symptoms were studied. The average age of this population was 28.84 years (±9.15) and it ranged from 18-58 years. 3.7% belonged to age group 18-27 years, followed by 28-37 years (22.1%); 38-47 yrs (52.8%); 48-57 yrs (18.5%) and &gt; 57 yrs (2.8%). Majority patients of 38-47 yrs 74 cases 52.8%. Males outnumbered females, constituting 76.2% of the total patients, with male to female ratio of 3.37:1. Out of the total 140, some had multiple complaints while others were asymptomatic. Majority cases of burning micturition in both male and female patients 39(24%). Burning micturition and discharge from genitalia was also observed in both sexes. The most frequently encountered infection in both male and female was Gonococcal Urethritis (GU) 42 (30%). The infections were common among both married and unmarried people. Other group of people who had no STI (23.5%) was suffering from venereophobia, pearly penile papules and some form of dermatitis. No case of HIV infection was encountered in this study. Gonococcal Urethritis was common mainly among businessman, transportation worker, security personnel and housewives. Other infections were equally dispersed in all other occupation groups. Conclusions: The prevention and control of STI is based on health education, appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Sexually active people adolescents and young adults should be provided with proper sex education about delaying sex debut and protective measures (correct and consistent use of barrier method during every sexual act) to prevent these infections with especial focus on monogamous relationship.

Premarital Screening Program in Al-Nuaman Teaching Hospital

Background: Premarital blood screening helps couples to identify potential health problems and risks for themselves and their offspring, considered a primary preventive approach for couples planning for conception and an important step towards protecting society from spread of diseases especially thalassemia, and allowing people to enjoy life. Objective: To determine the prevalence of minor β-thalassemia, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) referred to Al-Nuaman Teaching Hospital. Methods: The cross-sectional study as part of premarital screening in Al-Nuaman Teaching Hospital was conducted over six months from May 2017 to the end of October 2017. Total individual of 3027 underwent routine mandatory tests. Results: Regarding HIV and VDRL cases were zero, regarding HBV was no case in August, only one case in May and June, two cases in September and October, and four cases in July, regarding HCV there was no cases in May, June and Aug., two cases in September, and October, and three cases in July, Regarding β-thalassemia minor, one couple in August and another couple in September, those two couples both male and female were thalassemia minor , while the rest either the male or female were thalassemia minor. Conclusion: Premarital screening program is an important project in detecting asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis viral infection and thalassemia. This study showed that incidence of hepatitis B infections 0.33% were more frequent than Hepatitis C infections 0.23%, there was no cases of HIV infection detected so far, and β-thalassemia trait prevalence was 1.92%. Keywords: Premarital, β-thalassemia, virology, screening Citation: Hanoon BD, Sudad A. Khalf SA, Khalaf IA. Premarital screening program in Al-Nuaman Teaching Hospital. Iraqi JMS. 2021; 19(2): 147-151. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.19.2.3

Análise epidemiológica em prontuários de clientes soropositivos

O estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar o perfil epidemiológica das pessoas soropositivas residentes no interior do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. As pessoas soropositivas são aquelas portadoras do Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (HIV), a doença teve seu ápice no início da década de 80, desde então é considerada uma pandemia, segundo os dados da OMS, já matou mais de 40 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo. Estima-se 37,9 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo vivendo com HIV em 2019 (UNAIDS). No Brasil, de acordo com o “Boletim Epidemiológico HIV/Aids”do Ministério da Saúde (DIAHV/SVS/MS), em 2018, foram diagnosticados 42,4 mil novos casos de HIV. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com critérios de inclusão prontuários de 2018, ambos os sexos, maiores de 18 anos de idade. Estudo aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa do Centro Universitário de Volta Redonda - UniFOA, sob o registro de CAAE nº14393118.2.0000.5237. Analisados 154 (100%) prontuários com predomínio de homens, solteiros, gays, entre 20 a 49 anos, ensino fundamental completo. A maioria das fichas de notificações anexas ao prontuário constatava o não uso de drogas, entretanto as anotações médicas discordavam dessa informação. Não obstante, esse trabalho permite comparar a realidade encontrada na região com levantamentos epidemiológicos comparando com o Brasil, a região Sudeste e o estado do Rio de Janeiro, dos casos de infecção pelo HIV. A pesquisa poderá contribuir para medidas de educação em saúde com ênfase na prevenção e melhoria da qualidade de assistência à população.

Epidemiological profile and lethality of visceral leishmaniasis/human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: The association of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a concern worldwide, and this co-infection is linked to increased lethality. The Northeast is the region that mostly reports cases of VL in Brazil. The knowledge of risk factors associated with VL/HIV co-infection and its impact on lethality is extremely important. METHODS: The present study analyzed the epidemiologic features of cases with VL/HIV co-infection in the state of Pernambuco, Northeast of Brazil, from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: There were 858 and 11,514 reported cases of VL and HIV infection, respectively. The average incidences of VL and HIV infection were 1.82 and 24.4/100,000 inhabitants, respectively. Of all reported cases of VL, 4.9% (42/858) also had HIV infection. There was an inverse spatial association between VL and HIV infection incidences. The lethality rates of VL, HIV infection, and co-infection were 9.9%, 26.1%, and 16.6%, respectively. Most of the patients were males and lived in urban areas. The cases of VL mostly occurred in children aged below 10 years, whereas the cases of HIV infection and VL/HIV co-infection were primarily observed in adults between 20 years and 39 years old. CONCLUSIONS: We defined the profile and areas with most cases of co-infection and found that the lethality of VL with co-infection increased in the current period. These findings contribute to applying efforts with a greater focus in these identified populations to prevent future deaths.

Clinical patterns of sexually transmitted diseases in human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals in a tertiary care center in South India.

Background:Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) synergize to aggravate the associated morbidity of each other in the human body.Aims:The aim was to study the pattern of presentations of STDs in patients with HIV.Materials and Methods:This study was conducted by selecting 100 consecutive cases of HIV infection with symptoms suggestive of co-existing STD attending the outpatient department in a tertiary care center in south India.Results:Most of the patients belonged to the age group of 26–30 years, with a slight male preponderance. Genital ulcer was the predominant presenting complaint (60%), followed by dysuria (32%) and genital growth (29%). Genital ulcer was the most common lesion (56%), followed by other genital lesions (37%) and extragenital lesions (18%). Among the investigations, Tzanck smear was most commonly seen positive (62.3% of 61 patients), followed by positive potassium hydroxide mount and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory. About 35.5% of the male patients and 60.53% of the female patients had multiple diagnoses. In males, herpes genitalis (29.76%) was the most common STD, followed by condyloma accuminata (23.08%). In females, candidal vulvovaginitis (28.12%) was the most common STD, followed by herpes genitalis (23.43%).Conclusion:Our study found genital ulcer as the most common symptom and sign of STD in HIV-infected patients. Herpes genitalis was the most common STD among males and candidal vulvovaginitis was the most common STD among females.

Medical and Islamic Perspectives on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and its Prevention

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the world’s most serious health and nation-state destructions. It creates long-term economic and psychosocial impact on the lives of individuals, families and communities. Since the first reported case of HIV/AIDS in Malaysia in 1986, its prevalence has escalated significantly. As of December 2017, there are over 115,263 reported cases of HIV infections in the country and over 40,000 people died from HIV/AIDS.1 Although many religious people regarded HIV infection as a divine punishment for their sins of sexual promiscuity, Islamic teaching emphasises the prevention of the disease and care for people living with HIV or AIDS. It is imperative to discuss the Islamic perspectives in providing ways to prevent the spread of HIV and support to people living with HIV (PLHIV). This article focuses on epidemiological data; highlight the burden of HIV infection/AIDS in Malaysia and its impact on the society, HIV infection from medical perspective and its preventive measures from Islamic viewpoints. A good teamwork among healthcare providers and religious leaders is compulsory as it may improve the preventive strategies to curb the disease in the country.