title: Diarrheal disease among HIV-infected adults in Karnataka, India: evaluation of risk factors and etiology.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to evaluate characteristics associated with diarrhea, the effect of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) prophylaxis on diarrhea, the response to treatment with ciprofloxacin and tinidazole (Cipro-TZ), and presence of enteric pathogens. Adults infected with human immunodeficiency virus with and without diarrhea served as cases and controls, respectively. Participants provided a medical history and underwent a physical examination. Blood was collected for CD4 cell counts and stool for culture. Cases were treated with Cipro-TZ. Factors associated with a risk of diarrhea included crowded living and no toilet (all P < 0.05). Protective variables (P < 0.05) included a CD4 count greater than 200 cells/mm(3) and TMP/SMX prophylaxis. Cases were more likely to have a pathogen identified (P = 0.05). Eighty-six percent of the cases responded to treatment. Important risk factors for diarrhea were identified. Protection by TMP/SMX reinforces the importance of prophylaxis. These data suggest that treatment with an antibiotic and anti-parasitic medication may be effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Department of Community Health Sciences, and Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. beckerm@cc.umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Marissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheang
authors.forename: Reynold G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moses
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires