Intestinal and systemic infection, HIV, and mortality in Zambian children with persistent diarrhea and malnutrition

Persistent diarrhea-malnutrition syndrome is a complex of infection and immune failure that involves protein, calorie and micronutrient depletion, and metabolic disturbances. We report an analysis of the impact of HIV infection on infectious disease, clinical presentation, and mortality in Zambian children with persistent diarrhea and malnutrition.

Two hundred children (94 boys and 106 girls, 6-24 months old) were examined on admission to the malnutrition ward of University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. There was then 1 month of follow-up.

Antibodies to HIV were found in 108 of the children (54%). The common intestinal infections (Cryptosporidium parvum [26%] and nontyphoid Salmonella spp [18%]), septicemia (17%), and pulmonary tuberculosis confirmed by gastric lavage (13.5%) were not significantly more common in HIV-seropositive than in HIV-seronegative children. HIV-seropositive children were more likely to have marasmus whereas HIV-seronegative children were more likely to have kwashiorkor. Weight-for-age z scores at nadir (postedema) were lower in HIV-seropositive children (median, -4.4; interquartile range [IQR], -5.0 to -3.8) than in HIV-seronegative children (median, -3.7; IQR, -4.2 to -3.1; P < 0.0001). Height-for-age and weight-for-height z scores and mid-upper arm circumference showed a similar difference. Of the 200 children, 39 (19.5%) died within 28 days; cryptosporidiosis and marasmus were the only independent predictors of death.

Although intestinal and systemic infections did not differ for HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative children, HIV influenced nutritional states of all children. Cryptosporidiosis and marasmus were associated with higher mortality.