[The association of tuberculosis with HIV/AIDS infection in children in Romania]

The great number of AIDS cases in children in Romania, together with the high annual risk of Tb infection, created the premises for the occurrence of a relatively great number of disease cases through HIV infection/AIDS + tuberculosis, particularly in the age-group "0-5 years". Serum positive HIV children were considered as AIDS cases when tuberculosis was also associated. Twelve cases in which the infections were concomitant, transmitted through injections, constituted an exception to the point. The 12 children serum positive for HIV showed a primary musculo-cutaneous complex on their thighs, at the very place of injections. A proportion of 50% of them showed a favourable evolution under anti-Tb treatment. Most children developed primary tuberculosis aerogenically acquired, associated with AIDS. A proportion of 59.5% of them evoluted towards severe disseminated forms (milliaria, meningitis), with many deaths, and 37.8% only showed a favorable evolution under anti-tuberculosis treatment. HIV infection in children took place predominantly between 1987-1989. Tuberculosis was associated 1-2 years later, when the switching from bacillary infection into active tuberculosis was facilitated by the progressive immunodepression which is specific for AIDS. The tuberculin test with 2 IU-PPD was positive in less advanced AIDS cases but faded in children in the final stage of the syndrome or in those with severe forms of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis finding out in children with HIV infection/AIDS is however possible; therefore, skin test reaction is compulsory in all children in this category. In children with a tuberculosis cured through specific treatment in their histories, the association of HIV infection reaching AIDS stage can lead to a Tb relapse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)