Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. My daughter is due to have her levels checked again in January. She has Hep C and HIV. Her last levels in Oct.03 were 37,800 viral load and t-cells were around 435. She complains of chest pains, like it seems hard to breathe after walking a flight of steps or a long distance. She is a smoker. She's 21. She has not started any meds yet. She doesn't seem to have any flu-like symptoms.
Are chest pains a normal complaint of HIV patients? Should she get a flu & pnenomonia shot ?
Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
No, chest pains are not normal, and she needs to have several
tests to examine her lungs and heart for the source of this pain.
There could be many things going on and she may need lots of test
done. Also, she needs both flu and pneumonia shots. Get her to
see someone ASAP!
Good luck!
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