ETIOLOGICAL AGENTS OF DIARRHEA IN PATIENTS INFECTED BY THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-1 : A REVIEW

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 59 - 65
• Main Authors: BAPTISTA ROSSIT, Andréa Regina, MUSA GONCALVES, Ana Carolina, FRANCO, Célia, DANTAS MACHADO, Ricardo Luiz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 01-03-2009; Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo; Instituto de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Diarrhea - epidemiology; Diarrhea - microbiology; Diarrhea - parasitology; General aspects; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV-1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Prevalence; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Human; Immunopathology; Prevalence; HIV-1 virus; Retroviridae; Diarrhea; AIDS; Epidemiology; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Virus; Infection; HIV; Etiology; Viral disease; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Tropical medicine; Enteropathogens; Human immunodeficiency virus; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0036-4665; 1678-9946; 1678-9946; 0036-4665
• DOI: 10.1590/S0036-46652009000200001

Despite the importance of understanding the epidemiology of agents responsible for infectious diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) population, the number of articles about this subject is relatively few. The current article summarizes published data on bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic enteropathogens in the HIV/AIDS seropositive subjects in different countries, regions and localities. In general, there is a great difference in the frequencies of etiological agents due to factors which include immune status, geographical location, climate and socioeconomic conditions. It is important to stress that a great prevalence of infection by emergent agents has been reported in the more advanced stages of AIDS. Therefore, to establish specific treatment depends directly on knowledge of these agents and risk factors associated to their distribution. Moreover, the colonization by potential pathogenic agents verified in these individuals is high thus implicating that they act as carriers. Finally, public health measures of control and prevention must take into consideration the regional previously identified enteropathogens, especially in areas where HIV prevalence is high.