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[AIDS in children. 8 years experience at La Raza Medical Center Infectology Hospital, Mexican Social Security
G E Pérez-Rodríguez1, M C Gorbea-Robles, F Torres-González
1Hospital de Infectología, Centro Médico La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México, D.F.
Insights
Perinatal transmission is the primary route for pediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. This study details transmission, clinical behavior, and outcomes in 60 children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in children presents unique challenges.
- Understanding transmission routes is crucial for prevention and management.
- The study period (1985-1992) predates widespread effective antiretroviral therapies.
Purpose:
- To describe the transmission mechanisms of HIV in pediatric patients.
- To detail the clinical manifestations and behavior of HIV disease in children.
- To identify the predominant mode of HIV transmission in the studied cohort.
Summary:
- Sixty pediatric patients (newborn to 15 years) with HIV were analyzed.
- Perinatal transmission (transplacental, breast-feeding) was the most common route (25 cases).
- Other routes included hemophilia (22), blood transfusion (12), and contaminated needle (1).
Impact:
- Findings highlight perinatal transmission as the leading cause of pediatric HIV during the study period.
- Clinical manifestations included altered growth, lymphadenopathy, and severe infections.
- Mortality was significant, with 22 of 60 patients deceased by the study's end.
Abstract:
The objective for this work was to describe the transmission mechanisms and the clinical behavior of 60 HIV-infected pediatric patients. We studied children from newborn to 15 years old according to the CDC criteria. From January 1985 to February 1992, were evaluated 60 patients, 40 males and 20 females; 25 with perinatal transmission (23 transplacental and 2 breast-feeding), 22 hemophiliacs, 12 by blood transfusion and 1 by intramuscular injection with contaminated needle. The disease was symptomatic in 50 patients, asymptomatic in 5 and indeterminate in 5 cases. Up to date, 28 children are in phase P2, 10 in P0 and P1, and 22 patients have died. The clinical manifestations in 50 patients were: altered growth and development in 50, generalized lymphadenopathy in 30, severe infections in 23, fever in 15, hepatosplenomegaly in 15, chronic diarrhea in 10, and HIV-encephalopathy in one. It is concluded what at present time perinatal transmission is the main mechanism.