Today’s topic of discussion is weight loss. Although many of
you may think about the perfect body, healthy weight, and high self-esteem, the
weight loss I will talk about is the HIV Wasting Syndrome.
It is the involuntary weight loss; despite the person's desire
to keep their healthy weigh, they still lose more than 10% of their body weight
(Stedman's, 2015).
It is when a patient has severe diarrhea, fever and
weakness. They often lose much of their muscle mass, thus ending up in a more vulnerable
state than they already were. Most effective treatment for HIV Wasting Syndrome
is the Antiretroviral Therapy. In addition one can keep a healthy diet recommended
for the HIV Wasting Syndrome patients by eating foods that are high in protein
and exercise to slow down deterioration (Susa Coffey & Ian McNicholl, July 30, 2015).
Since Wasting is a syndrome of HIV, the best way to prevent it is by
preventing HIV. Another possible way to prevent Wasting Syndrome is like
mentioned earlier to maintain a good diet.
An image bellow is one of the cases of Wasting Syndrome
with a failure of Antiretroviral Therapy in Nigeria (Ogoina D, 2010). Some
of the causes of the syndrome include an inefficient food intake, vomiting,
depression, and getting 'full' too quickly (Office on Women's Health, July 1,
2011).
 |
| Ogoina D, 2010 |
“A retrospective observational study was conducted using a
large, geographically diverse US managed care population to identify commercial
enrollees with HIV/AIDS from 1/1/2005-7/31/2007” (Siddiqui J,
Phillips A. L.,
Freedland E. S.,
Sklar A. R.,
Darkow T.,
Harley C. R., May 2009). The study showed that approximately one out of ten
patients with HIV have the Wasting Syndrome, it occurs more often among men
than women, and to patients that are older (Siddiqui J,
Phillips A. L.,
Freedland E. S.,
Sklar A. R.,
Darkow T.,
Harley C. R., May 2009). The HIV Wasting Syndrome is something one would not be able to live comfortably with, but more like in constant distress and agony.
Reference:
Coffey S. &
McNicholl I. (2015). HIV wasting syndrome. U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.hiv.va.gov/patient/diagnosis/OI-wasting-syndrome.asp.
Ogoina D. (2010). HIV
Wasting Syndrome in a Nigerian Failing Antiretroviral Therapy: A Case Report
and Review of the Literature.US National Library of Medicine National
Institutes of Health. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21209738.
Office
of Women's Health. July 1, 2011. HIV Wasting Syndrome. Office on
Women's health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. Retrieved
fromhttp://womenshealth.gov/hiv-aids/opportunistic-infections-and-other-conditions/hiv-wasting-syndrome.html.
Stedman's, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins. 2015. Definition: 'Wasting Syndrome'. Retrieved
from https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1545003524718780037#editor/target=post;postID=1760980936468748366
Siddiqui J,
Phillips A. L.,
Freedland E. S.,
Sklar A. R.,
Darkow T.,
Harley C. R., (2009). Prevalence and cost of HIV-associated weight loss in a
managed care population. US National
Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Retrieved
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19364303.
