Prevalence of Malaria and Some Opportunistic Infections in Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Patients with CD4 Below 200 in Faith Alive Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leads to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) resulting to a progressive decline in the immune system of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) making them susceptible to a variety of opportunistic infections which eventually leads to death. This study aimed at determining the prevalence malaria and some opportunistic infections in HIV/AIDS patients with CD4 count below 200 attending Faith Alive Hospital, Jos, Plateau State. The testing for opportunistic infections was done using thick and thin blood films for haemoparasites, formal ether concentration technique for stool, sedimentation technique for urine for intestinal parasites and modified Ziehl-Neelsen's technique to examine the sputum for bacteria and other parasites. Higher infection of 96 (96%) out of the 100 patients examined was recorded. Of this, malaria was the most common infection with 86 (86.0%) (P < 0.05). 6 (6.0%) were tested positive for tuberculosis and 4 (4.0%) had cryptosporidiosis while 4 (4.0%) had no infection. The study reveals that most HIV/AIDS patients with CD4 below 200 were infected and there is need for regular checkup and prophylaxis to reduce the prevalence of these infections.

Malaria an opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patients? – A Nigerian experience

“…A study conducted in Southwest Ethiopia also reported that malaria was more prevalent among HIV-positive individuals within a similar age range (25–34 years). 31 Studies in Jos, Nigeria, 4 Europe, 6 and Beira, Mozambique 22 have similarly reported that the prevalence of parasitaemia among HIV patients is usually among this age group. On the other hand, studies conducted on the mainland of Tanzania 32 and in Nankoma, Uganda 33 dispute this finding, indicating that the occurrence is typically highest among those under the age of 20, while another in Cross River State, Nigeria discovered that age has no bearing on this.…”

“…Opportunistic infections occur more frequently and with greater severity in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those positive for HIV. 4 Opportunistic infections are less prevalent today than during the early stages of HIV and AIDS, owing to improved medications that reduce HIV viral load and strengthen the immune system. 5 However, many people living with HIV continue to develop opportunistic infections, because they are unaware of their HIV status, are not on treatment, or their treatment does not keep their viral load low enough for their immune system to fight infections.…”

“… 13 Studies have addressed the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria, 18 , 19 association between clinical malaria and immunosuppression among HIV-positive patients. 20 and effects of malaria infection on HIV-positive individuals in Nigeria, 4 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 22 but information on malaria as an opportunistic infection in HIV-positive individuals is scanty. As such, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and its relationship with HIV immunodeficiency among HIV-positive patients in Abuja, Nigeria.…”