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Published on: October 31, 2010
Pediatric HIV in Kano, Nigeria
P N Obiagwu1, F Hassan-Hanga, M Ibrahim
1Department of Paediatrics, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
Insights
Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant public health concern. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial for reducing the impact of pediatric HIV infection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection persists as a critical public health issue globally.
- Despite declining seroprevalence rates, HIV in children requires ongoing attention and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of pediatric HIV infection in a hospital-based setting.
- To identify modes of transmission, clinical presentations, and outcomes in children with HIV.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, hospital-based study involving 160 children presenting for initial hospital care.
- Utilized physical examinations, rapid HIV antibody tests, virological confirmation for infants, and maternal HIV testing.
- Followed HIV-infected children for 6 months, analyzing data with SPSS 16.0.
Main Results:
- Confirmed HIV infection in 22 (13.8%) children, with a mean age of 26.9 months.
- Primary transmission routes included mother-to-child (63.6%) and group circumcision (22.7%).
- Common symptoms were fever (95.4%), cough/weight loss (77.3%), and diarrhea (59.1%); 18.2% had tuberculosis co-infection, and 63.6% presented with severe immunodeficiency. Mortality was 18.2% within 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Early diagnosis of pediatric HIV is essential for effective management.
- Prompt initiation of treatment can significantly mitigate the severity and impact of pediatric HIV infection.
Background:
Pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is still an important public health issue despite a decrease in global, national, and local seroprevalence rates.
Design:
A prospective, hospital-based study was conducted.
Materials And Methods:
One-hundred and sixty children presenting for the first time to the hospital were studied. Each child had a detailed physical examination and initial double rapid HIV antibody tests. A virological confirmatory test was done for those aged less than 18 months of age with positive results. Mothers of HIV-infected children also had HIV testing. HIV-infected children were enrolled into HIV care and followed up for 6 months. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 16.0 for Windows.
Results:
Twenty-two (13.8%) children were confirmed HIV-infected. The mean age was 26.9 ± 30.8 months. Male to female ratio was 1.1:1. Probable modes of transmission were mother-to-child in 63.6%, group circumcision in 22.7%, sexual transmission in 9.1% and unscreened blood transfusion in 4.5%. The most frequent symptoms on presentation were fever in 95.4% of patients, cough and weight loss in 77.3% and diarrhoea in 59.1%. The most common signs were hepatomegaly in 77.3%, pyrexia and crepitations in 72.7%, and pallor in 40.9%. Commonly diagnosed conditions were undernutrition, diarrheal disease, oral thrush, and pneumonia. Tuberculosis co-infection was diagnosed in 18.2% of children. Fourteen (63.6%) children had advanced and severe immunodeficiency. Mortality rate over 6 months was 18.2%.
Conclusion:
Early diagnosis of pediatric HIV and prompt institution of treatment in children would go a long way in reducing the scourge of the disease.
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