Thai language skill and HIV counseling among hilltribe people: a hospital-based study in Chiang Rai.

Twenty-nine hilltribe individuals from 6 different ethnic groups were among a group of 70 patients included in an investigation of interactions between HIV-1 virus infection and common tropical illnesses. Approximately half of the hilltribe subjects (14/29) required the aid of an interpreter for HIV counseling because they could neither speak nor understand the Thai language. The 5 HIV seropositive hilltribe individuals were younger than their seronegative counterparts (26 vs 37 years respectively; p < 0.05) and had less need of an interpreter (0% vs 58% respectively; p < 0.05). Inability to speak and understand Thai limits the access of some ethnic minority subjects to HIV counseling, testing and education.

Prevalence of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in Thai AIDS patients.

Infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), although rare in immuno-competent individuals, can potentially produce problems in immunocompromised patients such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this study, hemocultures for mycobacteria using radiometric BACTEC 13A media were taken from 334 patients with known human immunodeficiency virus infection admitted to four referral hospitals with fever of unknown site of infection and negative blood cultures for pathogenic bacteria. The mycobacterial hemocultures were positive for Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) in 58 patients (17.4%) and positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 34 patients (10.2%). The results of this study have proved that MAC infection, indeed, exists among Thai AIDS patients. The prevalence of MAC infection in Thailand is very high and comparable to that in the western countries. Physicians taking care of AIDS patients in Thailand should be aware of potential MAC infection, particularly in advanced cases. Considering the high prevalence of infection, primary prophylaxis against MAC infection in advanced AIDS patients is recommended.