Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Diarrhea in patients with AIDS.

Susan C Morpeth1, Nathan M Thielman

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3824, Durham, NC 27710, USA. susan.morpeth@duke.edu

Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology
|January 21, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Diarrhea in AIDS patients significantly impacts quality of life, especially with low CD4 counts. Prompt diagnosis and pathogen-specific treatment, alongside antiretroviral therapy, are crucial for managing this condition.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Optimizing Antihypertensive Care for Tanzanians Living With HIV: Effectiveness Outcomes From the COACH Pilot Trial.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)·2026
Same author

Long-Term Implementation and Effectiveness of a Quality Improvement Intervention for Myocardial Infarction in Tanzania.

Annals of global health·2026
Same author

Association between Epstein-Barr Virus viremia and cardiac function in children and young adults with perinatally acquired HIV.

Cardiovascular journal of Africa·2026
Same author

Cefazolin for Methicillin-Susceptible <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Bacteremia.

The New England journal of medicine·2026
Same author

Effect of an emergency department-based educational intervention on medication adherence and disease understanding after acute myocardial infarction in Tanzania.

Frontiers in public health·2026
Same author

The prevalence of HIV among patients with cardiovascular disease in a Tanzanian emergency department: results from a prospective observational study.

AIDS care·2025

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Diarrhea is a significant global health issue for individuals with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
  • Chronic diarrhea (≥4 weeks) is linked to advanced immunosuppression, indicated by low CD4 counts.
  • Pathogens causing diarrhea in AIDS patients range from opportunistic (Microsporidia) to common enteric pathogens (Cryptosporidium, Salmonella) that cause more severe infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the challenges and diagnostic approaches for diarrhea in AIDS patients.
  • To emphasize the importance of identifying specific pathogens for effective treatment.
  • To discuss the role of antiretroviral therapy in managing AIDS-associated diarrhea.

Main Methods:

  • Recommends a stepped diagnostic approach including stool cultures, microscopy, and specialized stains.
  • Suggests endoscopic procedures (sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, duodenoscopy) with biopsies for persistent or severe cases.
  • Advocates for thorough microbiologic evaluation to guide tailored treatment strategies.

Main Results:

  • Treatment efficacy depends on accurate pathogen identification.
  • Prolonged treatment may be necessary for severely immunocompromised individuals.
  • Medication side effects (e.g., protease inhibitors) can cause diarrhea when no infectious agent is found.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of AIDS-associated diarrhea requires pathogen-specific treatment.
  • Restoring immune function through highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is essential.
  • A comprehensive diagnostic workup is vital for persistent and disabling diarrhea in AIDS patients.

Related Experiment Videos