Malaria in HIV/AIDS Patients at Different CD4+ T Cell Levels in Limbe, Cameroon

HIV infection has resulted in an increased risk of severe malaria and death, because the odds of parasitaemia and risk of malaria fever increase with decreasing CD4+ T cell count and increasing viral load. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 203 HIV/AIDS patients to determine the pattern of malaria infection, anaemic status and the outcome of ARV therapy vis--vis malaria treatment at different CD4+ T cell levels of the patient. Participants were HIV patients aged 20 years attending the HIV treatment centre of Limbe Regional Hospital, Cameroon. Clinical manifestations of malaria in patients were determined using a structured questionnaire. Their CD4+ T cell count and haemoglobin level were determined using the FACS count method. Malaria prevalence and density were determined from Giemsa-stained blood films. Clinical manifestations of malaria increased with decreasing CD4+ T cell counts. There was a negative correlation between malaria severity and decreasing CD4+ T cell counts. A significantly greater proportion (p<0.01) of patients had moderate anaemia. Cases of anaemia increased significantly (p<0.001) with decreasing CD4+ T cell counts. Declining immunity increases vulnerability to malaria infection and highly active ARV combination therapy has great potential to reduce HIV-related malaria.