Scientist dismisses 'AIDS-like disease' concerns
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E-mail Xinhua, September 4, 2012
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AIDS test [file photo] |
Soon after the circulation of the research findings, some Chinese have also linked the patients of the study to the so-called "HIV-Negative AIDS" group, referring to people who said they had displayed symptoms very similar with AIDS but tested to be HIV negative.
China's Health Ministry first received reports of "HIV-Negative AIDS" in June 2009. Tests found the Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), a common virus family, in 55 percent of the patients. But no evidence showed EBV as the cause of the symptoms.
The ministry said in May 2011 that no new or unknown viruses have been found among the self-proclaimed "HIV-Negative AIDS" group, and the cause of their AIDS-like symptoms had yet to be determined.
Most of the so-called "HIV-Negative AIDS" patients, who have symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, subcutaneous bleeding, joint pain, fatigue, night sweating and loss of weight, were later found to suffer from psychological AIDS phobia or other mental stress, according to Zeng.
The symptoms of some "HIV-Negative AIDS" patients relieved or even disappeared after their psychological problems were addressed, he said.
Although it might be possible that some "HIV-Negative AIDS" patients may well be those caught with the adult-onset immunodeficiency, there was no need to panic because the disease was not contagious, he said.
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