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HIV infection and persistent diarrhoea: a comparative study of HIV positive and HIV negative children

A R Nte1, A U Eneh

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. alicernte@yahoo.com

African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
|October 23, 2008
PubMed

Insights

HIV infection significantly worsens persistent diarrhea in children, increasing illness duration, severe wasting, and mortality. Integrated management of HIV and persistent diarrhea is crucial for better child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Persistent diarrhea is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing nations.
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection exacerbates childhood illnesses, with persistent diarrhea being a key clinical manifestation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of HIV seropositivity on the morbidity and mortality associated with persistent diarrheal disease in children.
  • To determine the association between HIV status and clinical outcomes in pediatric persistent diarrhea cases.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric patients with persistent diarrhea and known HIV serostatus.
  • Data on patient demographics, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were collected from medical records.
  • Statistical analysis was performed using EPI Info version 6.04.

Main Results:

  • The study included 99 children, with 44.4% testing HIV positive; 87.9% were under 23 months old.
  • HIV seropositivity was significantly linked to longer diarrhea duration (p<0.007), severe wasting, tuberculosis, chronic cough, and lymphadenopathy.
  • HIV co-infection substantially increased persistent diarrhea-related morbidity and mortality.

Conclusions:

  • HIV seropositivity is a significant risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in children with persistent diarrhea.
  • There is a critical need to scale up control programs and enhance management strategies for both HIV and persistent diarrhea in children.
  • Integrated care approaches are essential for improving outcomes in co-infected children.

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