UNDIAGNOSED DEBILITATING ILLNESS - CHINA (02)

Date: Fri 8 Apr 2011 Source: China.org.cn, The Global Times report [edited] Despite repeated medical tests and reassurances from the relevant health authorities, people suffering HIV/AIDS-like symptoms insist they are ill and have been infected with an undetected virus. Since 2009, there have been thousands of cases in 6 provinces and municipalities, according to media reports. Victims have complained of HIV/AIDS symptoms despite repeatedly testing negative for the virus. A leading expert at the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai also backed their claims. It was unlikely "psychological factors" caused the symptoms, Mo Xiaowei told the Beijing News. Her institute had conducted blood tests for 5 sufferers in 2009 and detected "the same unknown virus," Mo said. Mo's Institute, under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was "unqualified" to conduct such research, the Ministry of Health said. "I don't agree my symptoms were caused by an AIDS phobia," one man told the Global Times on Thursday [7 Apr 2011]. "I was tested negative, but I still have the symptoms. I don't know what I have." Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes and bleeding under the skin. The sufferers are fine and most of their symptoms were "exaggerated," Zeng Guang, chief epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, reiterated in a press conference on Wednesday [6 Apr 2011]. His center has done 2 epidemiological studies and sent blood samples to the US for further testing. All were found to be HIV negative, and their CD4 cell ratio in the blood -- an indicator of the immune system [function] -- was found to be normal. HIV phobia most likely caused the HIV suspicions, said Ministry of Health spokesman Deng Haihua. The sufferers remained unconvinced. "I didn't start seeking out doctors until after I discovered the physical symptoms," one sufferer told the Beijing News. -- Communicated by: Jerry Hausley [This report further excludes human immunodeficiency virus as the etiologic agent of this undiagnosed illness, and immune system dysfunction does not appear to be involved in at least some cases of this illness. It is still unclear whether the illness can be considered a discrete clinical entity. The report from the Institut Pasteur of Shanghai that a (so far uncharacterised) virus has been isolated from patients displaying the symptoms of this illness cannot be evaluated at this stage. A verdict from the US CDC is awaited. - Mod.CP] [see also: Undiagnosed debilitating illness - China: RFI 20110404.1051] .................................................cp/mj/jw *##########################################################* ************************************************************ ProMED-mail makes every effort to verify the reports that are posted, but the accuracy and completeness of the information, and of any statements or opinions based thereon, are not guaranteed. The reader assumes all risks in using information posted or archived by ProMED-mail. ISID and its associated service providers shall not be held responsible for errors or omissions or held liable for any damages incurred as a result of use or reliance upon posted or archived material. ************************************************************ Donate to ProMED-mail. Details available at: ************************************************************ Visit ProMED-mail's web site at . Send all items for posting to: promed@promedmail.org (NOT to an individual moderator). If you do not give your full name name and affiliation, it may not be posted. You may unsub- scribe at . For assistance from a human being, send mail to: . ############################################################ ############################################################