Introduction

Twenty years of living with AIDS has underscored the importance of careful planning on a number of fronts. One lesson learned is the necessity of addressing legal and financial matters as early and comprehensively as possible. This is c...

Introduction

This chapter discusses medical care at the end-of-life, and is organized into four sections, as follows:

Dying in the Era of HAART

Preparing Patients and Families for Imminent Death

Clinical Management of Imminently Dying Patients

A...

Maintenance of skin integrity in people with HIV poses a number of challenges to health care practitioners and caregivers. Because of the nature of HIV, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to heal open wounds or ulcers once they appear. It is for...

Introduction

This chapter is designed to give providers the information they need and that their patients may need during the course of treatment and care. The resources are meant to be comprehensive but not exhaustive. These resources will provide ...

Introduction

Health professionals caring for people living with HIV will encounter myriad symptoms ranging from minor and bothersome problems to problems that are associated with great distress. In caring for a patient who presents with a symptom, t...

Overview

The advent of highly active antiretroviral treatment has not diminished the need for palliative care for people living with HIV/AIDS. In fact, because of new treatments, fewer patients are dying from HIV/AIDS in the U.S. and the total numbe...

Introduction

This chapter will focus on basic methods of treating the suffering and distress caused by common pulmonary symptoms in AIDS patients. The approaches offered below are useful in relieving discomfort, even when the underlying disease is n...

Introduction

Constitutional symptoms, reported by more than 50% of people with advanced HIV disease, often significantly compromise both physical functioning and quality of life.1-3 The most common constitutional symptoms include weight loss, fatigu...

Introduction

People who are HIV positive face many challenges, including oral health problems. While most oral health problems are no different from the problems faced by people who are HIV-negative, there are some distinct differences. Further, whi...

Introduction

The prevalence of skin disorders in AIDS patients treated in the palliative care setting is exceptionally high. Unfortunately, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of skin diseases in both HIV and AIDS can be an especially challengin...