Elderly deaths in ‘HIV village’
The death toll is increasing in Battambang’s Roka commune, which has been plagued by a massive HIV outbreak, as health officials confirmed yesterday that two more HIV-positive villagers succumbed to illnesses despite undergoing antiretroviral treatment (ART). The two elderly women, aged 74 and 75, died on Tuesday and Thursday respectively due to a possible culmination of underlying co-morbidities like typhoid and pneumonia, weakened immune systems and adverse reactions to ARTs, Dr Ly Penh Sun, director of the National Centre for HIV/AIDS, Dermatology and STD Control (NCHADS), said. … When treating elderly patients, health providers perform a comprehensive review of their current medical conditions and medications to tailor their ART regimen. …
Sarah Taguiam
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/elderly-deaths-hiv-village
