What is Wasting Syndrome

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.