Swine flu: AIDS patients not at greater risk of infection

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Swine flu: AIDS patients not at greater risk of infection

Aug 13, 2009

Though the CD4 cells are less, other parts of the immune system are able to

fight the flu

The immune system of people with HIV/ AIDS is compromised. Yet, they are not

considered to be at a greater risk of getting infected with swine flu compared

with the general population.

" HIV infected people are not at a greater risk of getting infected with swine

flu compared to the general population, " said Dr. R. Paranjape, Director of the

National AIDS Research Institute, Pune.

According to the U.K. National Health Services (NHS), the risk of catching swine

flu by a person who is HIV positive is probably not high. " Although HIV infects

CD4 cells and reduces their number and function, there are other parts of the

immune system that are able to fight the flu, " it states.

Dr. Gallant, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology in the Division of

Infectious Diseases at the s Hopkins University School of Medicine explains

in thebody. com the reason why people with HIV/AIDS are not particularly at risk

of getting infected.

Not more susceptible

" HIV-infected people are not in general at greater risk of influenza or flu than

other people. And that's in part because the cellular immune system, the part of

the immune system that the CD4 cells comprise, is not really responsible for

fighting the flu.

As a result, HIV doesn't make you more susceptible. For most people with HIV,

the swine flu is pretty much the same as it would be with somebody without HIV, "

Dr. Gallant was quoted as saying in thebody.com.

Sujatha Rao, Director General of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO),

Delhi, shares Dr. Paranjape's views. " There are no special precautions that

people with HIV/AIDS need take to prevent swine flu infection, " she said.

In fact, an advisory sent by the NACO to all centres that provide antiretroviral

therapy (ART) does not talk of any special precautions that people with HIV/AIDS

should take to prevent swine flu infection.

The advisory only mentions that people with any of the common symptoms of swine

flu - cough, fever, sore throat, running nose, body ache, chills or fatigue -

should wear a mask before entering the centre.

The ART centres in turn should provide masks at the entrance of the centres to

such people who are not wearing it. The ART centres are also required to examine

these patients on a first priority basis.

But HIV positive people who are infected with swine flu are at a greater risk of

suffering from complications.

Severe complications

" If you have a low CD4 count (under 200), you may be more likely to suffer

complications like pneumonia from any type of flu, including swine flu, " notes

the NHS.

" But how those [HIV positive people] infected with swine flu would suffer is not

known as the swine flu virus is new and we don't have enough data, " said Dr.

Paranjape.

It would probably be correct to assume that many people with no underlying

disease and with good immune system will be able to fight the infection even

without any medication.

HIV positive people with their immune system compromised may therefore suffer

from greater complications from swine flu.

According to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, United States, HIV

positive people, and especially those with low CD4 cell counts are known to be

at higher risk for viral and bacterial lower respiratory tract infections and

for recurrent pneumonias.

" It is possible that HIV-infected adults and adolescents are also at higher risk

for novel influenza A(H1N1) virus infection complications, " the CDC states.

The CDC notes that " Evidence that influenza can be more severe for HIV-infected

adults and adolescents comes from studies among HIV-infected persons who had

seasonal influenza; these data are limited. "

According to the CDC, people with HIV/AIDS and especially persons with low CD4

cell counts or AIDS can experience more severe complications of seasonal

influenza.

And it is possible that HIVinfected adults and adolescents are also at higher

risk for novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infection complications.

http://www.hindu.com/seta/2009/08/13/stories/2009081354441300.htm