HIV and Malaria

Malaria and HIV infection are both prevalent in the areas of the world where these diseases have thelargest burden. Both diseases interact with one another and this interaction is especially importantin areas with non-continuous malaria transmission, in pregnant women, and in patients with moresevere immunodeficiency. Malaria has been implicated in transitory higher viral load and in low CD4counts, so it could have an influence on higher transmission rates of HIV and perhaps in the courseof HIV infection. Infection with HIV has been shown to cause more clinical malaria and higher parasitemiain patients living in perennial transmission areas, and higher rates of severe malaria episodesand mortality in areas where malaria is transmitted with seasonal frequency. The HIV-infected patientshave also higher rates of malaria treatment failures.Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis has been shown to be effective in the prevention of some opportunisticinfections in HIV-infected patients, but also in prevention of malaria episodes. Antiretroviral proteaseinhibitors demonstrate antimalarial effects that could have important clinical and therapeutic implications.For all of these reasons, HIV and malaria should be considered together as part of healthcareprograms for both diseases in countries where their co-presence favors an interaction with importantclinical consequences.