People living with HIV are more prone to getting malaria, a preliminary study by Makerere University and University of California researchers has indicated.
Anne Gasasira, of Makerere yesterday told a symposium on malaria at Hotel Africana in Kampala that people living with HIV were six times more likely to get repeated treatment for malaria than those that are negative.
She, however, said the study was not conclusive as they were yet to carry out more research, but added that, "During the study, people with HIV tended to come for repeated treatment, indicating that they were at an increased risk of suffering from more frequent episodes of malaria."
She told participants from 20 African countries, Europe and the US that there were concerns about people taking anti-malarial drugs while on anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs).
"ARVs and anti-malarial drugs have shown signs of affecting the other's performance. In some cases the life-span of the malaria drugs is shorter," she said.
Gasasira said another group that was prone to malaria was the pregnant women and that those with HIV who suffer from malaria were more likely to pass HIV on to their children.
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