HIV infection as a cofactor for severe falciparum malaria in adults living in a region of unstable malaria transmission in South Africa

Abstract

HIV infection had an unexpectedly large association with the outcome of falciparum malaria in a region of unstable transmission. Both diseases are widespread in Africa and these results add to the body of knowledge suggesting an interaction of significant public health importance between HIV and malaria in Africa.

Enhanced T cell activation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria-infected human immunodeficiency virus-1 patients from Mozambique

“…In a previous study, 10% of adults with severe malaria had Hg levels of 7 g/dL or less, which is much lower than expected for a healthy individual (WHO 2000). Moreover, HIV-1 infection itself can also cause anaemia (Belperio & Rhew 2004) and constitutes an important risk factor for severe malaria in adults (Grimwade et al 2004, Chalwe et al 2009). In our study, anaemia was present at a higher degree in Pf/HIV coinfected patients, since they had lower Hg levels than the malaria only patients.…”

“…Indeed, HIV infection has been considered an important risk factor for severe Pf malaria (Grimwade et al 2004, Chalwe et al 2009). Increased Plasmodium parasitaemia is most likely related to the impairment of parasite control caused by HIV-1-related immunosuppression (Whitworth et al 2000.…”

Prevalence of Coinfection with Malaria and HIV among Children in Yaoundé, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Survey Performed in Three Communities in Yaoundé

“…Due to their overlapping distribution, coinfection with malaria and HIV is therefore bound to be common in the area. Coinfection with malaria and HIV is thought to have a synergistic effect, with studies reporting that repeated infection with malaria leads to a more rapid decline in CD4 + T cells overtime, meanwhile malaria coinfection with HIV results in more episodes of symptomatic malaria [11], and more episodes of severe or complicated malaria including death in both children and adults [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]. The risk of severe anaemia is also higher in HIV patients coinfected with malaria compared to HIV patients without malaria [17] [18].…”

Evaluation of a PfHRP-2 Based Rapid Diagnostic Test Versus Microscopy Method Among HIV-Positive and Unknown Serology Patients in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

“…This accelerates the progression of HIV infection as well as the risk of HIV transmission. [7][8][9][10][11][12] A key for effective management of malaria is early and accurate diagnosis in both endemic areas and imported cases in nonendemic countries. 12 Because of the global impact of malaria, there has been an increase in the development of diagnostic strategies.…”