We have previously suggested that helminth infections may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HIV infection in the developing countries. This is due to their profound effects on the immune system of the host, leading into a chronic immune activation state that makes him more susceptible to the infection and less able to cope with it. Since then, this has remained a controversial issue with several studies in support of our suggestions and some others opposing it. We shall summarize all cumulative relevant data on the topic, which when taken together, lends strong support to our original concepts. Furthermore, in a recent study we have carried out on deworming people living with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, we have found significant increase in CD4 levels following deworming. Taken together, we suggest that deworming should become universal and recognized as standard of care for all people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and integrated into all programs of treatment and follow up of such patients in all developing countries. We shall also describe our intervention program in Ethiopia where we have developed a comprehensive program for deworming, that combines health education and mass drug administration that has reached by now over 600,000 people, and has proven its efficacy over the last 4 years since its start.
© 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
