RESUMO
PIP: In India, clinicians conducted a cross sectional analysis of 104 HIV-positive intravenous (IV) drug users registered at the ICMR Unit for Research on AIDS in northeastern states of India to examine home-based care of these individuals living in Imphal, Manipur. 10% required referral to a hospital, mainly due to meningitis. 26% were asymptomatic. Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common opportunistic infection (12.5% for pulmonary TB and 6.7% for extrapulmonary TB). Other frequent signs and symptoms were oropharyngeal candidiasis (9.6%), hepatic involvement (9.6%), diarrhea (9.6%), and non-tubercular chest infection (8.7%). Among all 340 IV drug users registered at the unit, 17.1% were referred to either a hospital or an institution. Only 37.9% of those referred were satisfied with institutionalized care. The family extended support in 99.1% of all 340 cases. 25% of the families received counseling support. These findings suggest that families could care for most of the patients in their homes. Since the burden of caring for AIDS patients on the health care delivery system is expected to increase, a home-based care model and an improved referral network are needed.^ieng
