Comprehensive Health Care in HIV Infected Patients

Moon-Won Kang; Seong-Heon Wie

doi:10.5124/jkma.2003.46.7.629

J Korean Med Assoc > Volume 46(7); 2003 > Article

Kang and Wie: Comprehensive Health Care in HIV Infected Patients

Continuing Education Column

Journal of the Korean Medical Association

Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2003; 46(7): 629-635.

Published online: July 31, 2003

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2003.46.7.629

Comprehensive Health Care in HIV Infected Patients

Moon-Won Kang, M.D.¹, Seong-Heon Wie, M.D.²

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Korea. infect@catholic.ac.kr

²Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Korea. wiesh@chollian.net

This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

HIV infections have become chronic conditions requiring ongoing medical care after the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy, and people with HIV infections need more extensive and complex health care for healthy and productive lives. Therefore, AIDS care strategies should be comprehensive, extending far beyond drugs and medical care. Comprehensive health care means a wide range of services including psychological counseling, emotional support, financial support, nutritional interventions, maintenance of weight, dental service, and many other specific actions. Hospice workers, social workers and volunteers should provide essential education on HIV transmission and prevention, dispelling prejudice and fears. Cooperation and collaboration among all experts involved in the treatment against AIDS is essential to the success of practical approaches to preventing and treating HIV infections. All these activities improve not only the physical condition of patients but also their emotional state and quality of life, allowing them to live with dignity and self-respect.

AIDS; HIV; Comprehensive; Health care

References

1. Selwyn P, Arnold R. From fate to tragedy : the changing meanings of life, death and AIDS. Ann Intern Med 1998;129:899-902.

2. Mazin R. HIV/AIDS prevention and care in developing nations : The building blocks model 9 June, 2003. Available at http://www.usinfo.state.gov/journals/itgic/1201/ijge/gj04.htm

3. Cote TR, Biggar RJ, Dannenberg AL. Risk of suicide among persons with AIDS. A national assessment. JAMA 1992;268:2066-2068.

4. Goodwin FK. From the alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health administration. Cause of AIDS mental problems. JAMA 1988;260:3250.

5. Nerad J, Romeyn M, Silverman E, Allen-Reid J, Dieterich D, Fenton M, et al. General nutrition management in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Clin Infect Dis 2003;36:Suppl 2. S52-S62.

6. Wallace MR, Brann OS. Gastrointestinal manifestations of HIV infection. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 2000;2:283-293.

7. Breitbart W, Rosenfeld BD, Passik SD, McDonald MV, Thaler H, Portenoy RK. The undertreatment of pain in ambulatory AIDS patients. Pain 1996;65:243-249.

8. Kimball LR, McCormick WC. The pharmacologic management of pain and discomfort in persons with AIDS near the end of life : use of opioid analgesia in the hospice setting. J Pain Symptom Manage 1996;11:88-94.

9. Fitzgerald DW, Behets FM. Women's health and human rights in HIV prevention research. Lancet 2003;361:68-69.

10. Murphy DA, Marelich WD, Dello Stritto ME, Swendeman D, Witkin A. Mothers living with HIV/AIDS : mental, physical, and family functioning. AIDS care 2002;14:633-644.

11. Watts DH, Minkoff H. In: Dolin R, Masur H, et al, editor. Managing pregnant patients. AIDS therapy 2002;2nd ed. Philadelphia: Churchill-Livingstone. 381-399.