The clinical management of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections 2020
British HIV Association guidelines on the management of opportunistic infection in people living with HIV:
The clinical management of gastrointestinal opportunistic infections 2020
Introduction
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms occur frequently in people living with HIV. Dysphagia and diarrhoea may be caused by a wide variety of infections. Symptoms may arise from any part of the GI tract including the mouth, throat, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestine, liver, gall bladder, rectum and anus. The incidence of opportunistic infections has fallen as most people with HIV take combination antiretroviral therapy, however there remain some differences in type of pathology seen compared to non-HIV-positive populations, and opportunistic infections may still occur in those with higher CD4 counts. If a cause of persisting GI symptoms is not apparent, consultation with a gastroenterologist is indicated because people with HIV are also susceptible to many of the same conditions as the non-HIV-infected population.
The previous BHIVA/BIA guidelines for the treatment of opportunistic infection 2011 are being updated chapter by chapter using the same general methodology; this chapter provides guidance on the clinical management of GI opportunistic infections.
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Additional information
Public consultation comments
The comments received during the public consultation can be found below. All comments were reviewed and discussed, and the guidelines amended where appropriate.
Download the comments received by the BHIVA Secretariat during the web consultation process
Non-technical summary
Please note: The non-technical summary is less detailed than the full guideline and if you are reading this because it is relevant to your own healthcare, please do discuss any concerns or questions with your healthcare professionals.
Declaration of interests
Download the declaration of interests from writing group members
Writing group members
DR Chadwick, Centre for Clinical Infection, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK
RK Sutherland, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
S Raffe, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, UK
ERM Pool, Mortimer Market Centre, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
MBJ Beadsworth, Tropical and Infectious Disease Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital (Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation Trust), Liverpool, UK