Abstract
Background: Prolonged pathogen shedding and increased duration of illness associated with infections in immunosuppressed individuals put close human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative contacts of HIV-infected persons at increased risk of exposure to infectious pathogens. Methods: We calculated incidence and longitudinal prevalence (number of days per year) of influenzalike illness (ILI), diarrhea, and nonspecific febrile illness during 2008 from a population-based surveillance program in the urban slum of Kibera (Kenya) that included 1830 HIV-negative household contacts of HIV-infected individuals and 13 677 individuals living in exclusively HIV-negative households. Results: For individuals ≥5 years old, incidence was significantly increased for ILI (risk ratio [RR], 1.47; P < .05) and diarrhea (RR, 1.41; P < .05) in HIV-negative household contacts of HIV-infected individuals compared with exclusively HIV-negative households. The risk of illness among HIV-negative persons was directly proportional to the number of HIV-infected persons living in the home for ILI (RR, 1.39; P < .05) and diarrhea (RR, 1.36; P < .01). We found no increased rates of illness in children <5 years old who lived with HIV-infected individuals. Conclusions: Living with HIV-infected individuals is associated with modestly increased rates of respiratory and diarrheal infections in HIV-negative individuals >5 years old. Targeted interventions are needed, including ensuring that HIV-infected persons are receiving appropriate care and treatment.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 745-753 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 212 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2015 |
Keywords
- Acute lower respiratory infection
- Africa
- Diarrhea
- HIV
- Home-based counseling and testing
- Household transmission
- ILI
- Incidence rates
- Influenzalike illness
- Kibera
- Nonspecific febrile illness
- Nonspecific febrile illness
- Pneumonia
- Respiratory infection
- Surveillance
- Urban slum
- alri
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Infectious Diseases