[HIV infection and malaria].

In sub-Saharian Africa, most HIV seropositive subjects carry either haematozoa (especially children) or antimalarial antibodies. Despite a transient decrease in cell-mediated immunity during malarial paroxysms, Plasmodium falciparum malaria does not seem to influence the course of the HIV infection. Paroxysms may be slightly more frequent or slightly more severe in HIV seropositive subjects, but they raise no diagnostic or therapeutic problem. Some cases of HIV contamination have been attributed to the blood transfusions required by malaria-induced anaemia. Prophylactic measures include early chemotherapy of malaria and detection of dangerous blood donors, if necessary by quick tests. Modern HIV tests avoid most of the false-positive reactions sometimes observed during malaria.