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Indications for HIV testing in paediatric surgical patients

E Masache1, J Wilde1, E Borgstein1

  • 1Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.

Malawi Medical Journal : the Journal of Medical Association of Malawi
|August 17, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Paediatric surgical patients at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital showed a high Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevalence of 39.8%. Sepsis, head and neck swellings, and urogenital issues were common reasons for testing in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection remains a significant health concern in pediatric populations.
  • Routine HIV testing in pediatric surgical patients is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
  • Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) implements HIV testing when infection is suspected as a cause of illness or increased morbidity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the prevalence of HIV infection among pediatric surgical patients.
  • To identify common surgical conditions associated with HIV in children.
  • To determine the indications for HIV testing in this patient group.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective, descriptive analysis was conducted.
  • Data was collected from children under 15 years old who underwent HIV testing between January 2001 and April 2004.
  • Patient demographics, surgical conditions, and HIV test results were reviewed.

Main Results:

  • A total of 279 children were tested, with a near-equal gender distribution (50.2% boys, 49.8% girls).
  • The overall HIV prevalence in this cohort was 39.8%.
  • Highest HIV prevalence was observed in cases of urogenital problems (51%), followed by head and neck swellings (39%), and sepsis (38%).

Conclusions:

  • HIV infection is highly prevalent among pediatric surgical patients at QECH.
  • Specific surgical presentations, including urogenital issues, head and neck swellings, and sepsis, are strongly associated with HIV.
  • Targeted HIV testing in pediatric surgical settings is essential for early detection and intervention.

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