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Critical Nutrition Practices for Hiv/Aids Patients.
- Should have periodic nutrition assessment especially the weight.after every 2 months for symptomatic patients
and 2 months for asymptomatic patients.
- should eat food high in energy to meet increasing energy needs due to opportunistic infections.patients with BMI<16 should be supported with therapeutic supplementary feeding.patients in asymptomatic stage should increase energy intake by 10%above recommended daily allowance(RDA).those in symptomatic stage to increase by 20-30%And children with weight loss should increase their energy intake by 50%.energy increase can be achieved by adding snacks in between the meals.
- patients should maintain high levels of sanitation,food hygiene and food and water safety.if living in hook worm endemic areas,should be de-wormed after every six months with an broad spectrum anti helminthic drug.
- practice positive living behavior by practicing safe sex,avoiding or moderating alcohol,cigarettes and non prescription drugs,junk foods,and should manage stress and depression.
- do physical activity/exercises.this strengthens muscles and increases appetite.
- drink plenty of clean safe water.minimum of 2 liters per day.
- seek prompt treatment of for all opportunistic infections and other diseases.dietary manage symptoms that affect food intake.
- those taking medicine including ARVs should manage drug-food interactions and side effects by following drug schedule and use dietary approaches to manage the side effects symptoms.inform clinician if you are taking any supplement or herbs.
- children below 6 months and are born of HIV positive mothers and their mother /care givers have opted for exclusive replacement feeding should be supplemented with 50,000 IU of vitamin A and if not on commercial formula put on multivitamins everyday
Published: October 29, 2009
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