title: Prevalence and management of helminthiasis among underfives living with HIV/AIDS at Amana Hospital, Tanzania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This was a cross-sectional study intended to assess the prevalence and management of helminthiasis (HL) among underfives living with HIV/AIDS (ULHA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical histories of ULHA were scrutinized for HIV/AIDS status, antiretroviral therapy (ART), HL prevalence, and their management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 364 ULHA were studied, 213 (58.5%) were girls and 151 (41.5%) were boys. Of the 364 ULHA, 171 (47.5%) had HL and 64.3% were treated with albendazole (ABZ). Trichuriasis was ascribed to 23.6% of HL. Majority (72.5%) of ULHA had a CD4 count below 200 cells/mm³. Direct association was observed between CD4 counts and HL. About 55% ULHA were on lamivudine (3TC)-stavudine (d4T)-nevirapine (NVP; LSN) combination therapy. The ABZ-LSN combination was frequently used for HIV/AIDS and HL management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High prevalence of HL and vivid correlation between HIV status and HL were observed. The LSN-ABZ combination was frequently employed for management of HIV/AIDS and HL. We recommended prompt diagnosis of HL to avoid acceleration of HIV infection to AIDS.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology-MUHAS, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania. kmwambete@muhas.ac.tz
authors: Kennedy D
authors: KD
authors: Mwambete
authors: Jones
authors: J
authors: Tunzo
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Justin-Temu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents