1/13. HIV counselling--a luxury or necessity?WHO and UNAIDS have consistently promoted HIV counselling as a routine part of HIV testing in developing countries. Nevertheless, in many countries counselling is not considered a crucial accompaniment of testing services, and patients are tested without access to counselling during and after testing. Thus, information on the need for and results of counselling is needed to convince policy-makers and service managers to give greater priority to the development of counselling services. This qualitative study describes informational, social and emotional needs and problems of newly diagnosed seropositive patients attending public health services in zimbabwe. Their basic factual information on HIV/AIDS was reasonable, but many patients equalled HIV to AIDS and conceptualized their infection as 'social and physical death'. This seriously impeded their capacity to use knowledge of their test results in a constructive way, and stimulated coping by denial and/or secrecy about their HIV status. These avoidant coping strategies discouraged clients from using condoms, seeking social support and taking measures to protect their vulnerable health. The complex and changing nature of clients' needs indicates that common short-cuts in counselling (e.g. giving brief information before and after the HIV test) are seriously flawed as a strategy to prepare clients for effective coping. Comprehensive pre- and post-test counselling are an essential preparation for coping effectively during and immediately after testing. Availability of supportive counselling beyond this first phase is essential to assist clients with needs and problems which will appear over time. Development of counselling interventions should be guided by research into their effectiveness and by national policy guidelines. Replacing fear-inducing HIV campaigns with interactive, constructive information about HIV prevention and care will increase the preparedness of the community as a whole for effective living with HIV.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/13. Report of a false-positive HIV test result and the potential use of additional tests in establishing HIV serostatus.Considering the lifelong implications of a positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test result, physicians should be aware of the limitations of tests for HIV. A 43-year-old man had a reactive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and an indeterminate result on Western blot analysis. The results of subsequent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot tests were interpreted as positive, and the patient was informed that he had HIV infection. Persistently undetectable plasma hiv-1 rna, combined with normal physical examination findings, CD4( ) cell count, and CD4/CD8 ratio, prompted further testing, which revealed that the patient was not infected with HIV. False-positive HIV test results are uncommon, but they can occur. In the appropriate clinical setting, follow-up and the use of other laboratory tests, such as determination of plasma viral load, may help identify such cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.730765387878keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/13. Understanding the psychodynamics of non-adherence to medical treatment in persons with HIV infection.We present this medical-psychiatric case discussion to illustrate the psychodynamic aspects of nonadherence in a woman with AIDS. Our patient sustained severe, repeated abandonment and brutal emotional, physical and sexual trauma throughout her early and later childhood and adult life. Her care was considerably complicated by the sequelae of trauma including difficulty with trust and posttraumatic stress disorder. The additional problem of HIV dementia compounded the patient's nonadherence to treatment. We present a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approach that enabled the patient to engage in both medical and psychiatric care.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/13. noma (cancrum oris): case report in a 4-year-old HIV-positive South African child.Cancrum oris (noma) is a gangrenous infection that develops in the mouth and spreads rapidly to other parts of the face. The disease occurs mostly in conditions of poverty, poor hygiene and malnutrition. In sub-Saharan africa the frequency in several countries is estimated to be 1-7 cases per 1,000 population, and as many as 12 cases per 1,000 in the most affected communities. About 90% of these children die without receiving any care, yet the disease can, and should, be prevented. With increasing numbers of children who are malnourished and who have compromised immune systems (compounded by the HIV pandemic) the prevalence of conditions such as noma is likely to increase. Among the earliest features of noma are excessive salivation, marked fetor oris, facial oedema and a greyish-black discolouration of the skin in the affected area. This devastating gangrenous lesion may involve the cheek, the chin, the infra-orbital margin, palate, nose, antrum and virtually any part of the face. This report describes a 4-year-old HIV-positive African girl, who was abandoned, discharged from the plastics Unit and now lives in a child care sanctuary. Little is known about her history prior to her arrival at the home a few weeks previously. The clinical examination revealed a delay in growth and physical development equivalent to that of a 2-year-old child. The left cheek had a perforating ulcer in a healing phase. The perforation, about 1 cm in diameter, was surrounded by oedematous tissues showing a mild to moderate erythema. The peripheral oedema extended to the lower palpebral, the upper labial, left labial commissural, mandibular and pre-parotid regions. Submental, submandibular and cervical lymph nodes were mildly painful upon palpation. The child was not pyretic. The intra-oral examination revealed the features of acute necrotising gingivitis (ANG). ANG was generalised and showed classic interdental crater-like ulcers covered with whitish debris. halitosis was pronounced. Examination of the second quadrant revealed a large ulcer extending from the distal aspect of the deciduous canine to the distal aspect of the second deciduous molar. The adjacent palatal mucosa was severely oedematous. The alveolar bone supporting the first and the second molars was completely exposed to the fundus of the vestibulum. It was not possible to obtain intraoral photographs or radiographs. chlorhexidine gluconate (0.2% solution) and metronidazole tablets, 200 mg twice daily for 15 days were prescribed. The child was seen every alternate day for 10 days and her condition improved rapidly. halitosis had subsided. She was then referred to the Johannesburg Hospital for further treatment under general anaesthesia. The proposed treatment plan was as follows: removal of dental accretions and polishing of all teeth, extraction of the left maxillary teeth supported by non-vital bone, resection of the necrotic bone in the left maxilla and reconstructive surgery in the left cheek.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/13. Hemiparesis in HIV infection. rehabilitation approach.persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection demonstrate a wide array of central nervous system impairments and may be at a significantly increased risk for cerebrovascular disease. Cerebrovascular disease can be the first manifestation of HIV infection and may be associated with a treatable etiology. Anticipating more referrals for HIV-related physical disability, we detail the rehabilitation management of three persons with HIV infection and hemiparesis. Onset of hemiparesis ranged from just before to 24 months after an AIDS-defining illness. No specific underlying etiology was identified in two of three patients, consistent with previous observations. rehabilitation interventions included lower and upper extremity orthoses, assistive devices to aid gait and activities of daily living, therapeutic exercise and use of antispasticity medication. All patients made at least mild, temporary gains in functional status. survival ranged from 3 to >6 months from initial contact with rehabilitation services. Neurologic and nonneurologic considerations in the rehabilitation of persons with HIV infection are discussed. We conclude that selected individuals with HIV infection and hemiparesis can benefit from rehabilitation intervention. HIV infection should be considered in any young adult presenting with stroke.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/13. Grade 3 vulvar and anal intraepithelial neoplasia in a HIV seropositive child--therapeutic result: case report.A case report of a HIV seropositive 8-year-old child with vulvar and anal border neoplasia, both grade 3, and the adopted therapeutic management are presented. The mother reported the history of a progressively growing verrucous lesion in the vulva since the age of three and a half years. On physical examination a pigmented and elevated lesion was observed in the whole vulvar region extending to the anal region and intergluteal sulcus. After biopsies and anatomic pathological examination, antiretroviral therapy, adequate for age, and topical application of podophyllotoxin associated with Thuya officinalis extract was started. Three months afterwards vaporization and CO2 laser excision were performed in five sequential sessions, thereafter associated with topical imiquimod application. After the first two sessions of laser therapy early relapses occurred. After four weeks of imiquimod use, already a significant improvement of the lesions was observed, making the following laser therapy sessions easier. We conclude that antiretroviral therapy associated with podophyllotoxin and Thuya was not effective regarding regression of the lesions. laser therapy alone led to early relapses. The local use of imiquimod associated with laser was effective in decreasing and controling the lesions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.730765387878keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/13. HIV-seroconversion following sexual abuse.Transkei is a poverty stricken former black homeland, now a part of the Eastern Cape Province. unemployment and the incidental violence are very high. women are mainly responsible for bringing up their children. Single parenting is also common in this community. Sexual abuse of children is selected to be under-reported. This reports the case of a 13-year-old girl who was raped twice within three months and brought to the Sinawe Centre of the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. Failure to adhere to post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has undermined the implementation of antiretroviral roll out programme by the government. The history, physical examination and laboratory investigations of this case are given. Preventive steps are suggested.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.730765387878keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/13. Burkitt's lymphoma presenting as oculomotor palsy in an hiv-positive patient.PURPOSE: To report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) in an HIV-positive patient presenting as complete third nerve palsy. methods: Interventional case report. A 34-year-old man presented with headache, left eye pain, diplopia, and complete ptosis of several hours' duration. Left eye examination disclosed complete third nerve palsy with pupillary involvement. Significant hepatomegalia was noted at physical examination and computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen showed multiple solid lesions. RESULTS: liver biopsy was consistent with Burkitt's lymphoma. bone marrow biopsy was normal. brain imaging was normal. work-up also revealed positivity for human immunodeficiency virus. Chemotherapy treatment was started. Two months later, ocular motility examination was normal. CONCLUSIONS: Although BL affects the central nervous system very rarely, BL should be considered in any immunosuppressed patient presenting with diplopia or ophthalmoparesis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.730765387878keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/13. syphilis mimicking Reiter's syndrome in an HIV-positive patient.A 38-year-old man with HIV infection presented with panuveitis, urethritis, and a papulosquamous eruption on his palms and soles. Careful physical and laboratory examination led to the diagnosis of syphilitic keratoderma, uveitis, and balanitis. The patient was successfully treated with penicillin and prednisone therapy. Because the initial presentation was difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of Reiter's syndrome, a high degree of clinical suspicion was required to accurately diagnose syphilis, a curable and potentially fatal disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/13. Fulminant disseminated toxoplasmosis in an HIV patient.Disseminated toxoplasmosis in AIDS is a rare condition. We present an unusual case of a fulminant form of disseminated toxoplasmosis in a young male homosexual. He was a 30-year-old HIV-positive (diagnosed 4 months earlier), admitted with a 5-day history of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and cough. He had been generally healthy except for an 8-week history of weight loss and malaise. On admission, except for a temperature of 37.6 degrees C, the physical examination was normal. He was treated symptomatically. Four days after admission he suddenly became short of breath. Despite intensive management, he continued to deteriorate and expired 6 h later. Postmortem examination revealed disseminated toxoplasmosis involving the heart, lungs, brain, stomach, small intestine, and colon. This is an unusual presentation of disseminated toxoplasmosis because of its rapid course with no prior indication of infection. To our knowledge, such an atypical and rapid downhill course of toxoplasmosis (with minimal clinical and laboratory features) has not been reported previously. Increased awareness of this infection in all HIV patients and its possibly rapid course is needed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 10.730765387878keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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