Related Experiment Videos
HIV seropositivity in children admitted with diarrhoea at Eldoret District Hospital, Kenya
1Department of Child Health, Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya.
Insights
In Kenyan children under two with diarrhea, over half (50.9%) tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Prolonged diarrhea and co-occurring pneumonia or malnutrition significantly increased HIV positivity rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Diarrhea is a common illness in children under two years old.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection can present with various symptoms, including prolonged diarrhea.
- Understanding HIV prevalence in young children with diarrhea is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among children under two years old admitted with diarrhea.
- To investigate the association between diarrhea duration, co-morbidities (pneumonia, malnutrition, vomiting), and HIV positivity in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted on 57 children aged 2 years and below admitted with diarrhea at Eldoret District Hospital.
- HIV infection was diagnosed using appropriate testing methods.
- Data on diarrhea duration, presence of pneumonia, malnutrition, and vomiting were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Overall HIV positivity rate was 50.9% (29 out of 57 children).
- HIV positivity was significantly higher in children with diarrhea lasting over 14 days (70.8%) compared to those with shorter durations (36.7%).
- Children presenting with diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition had a substantially higher HIV positivity rate (80%) than those with diarrhea and vomiting (44.1%).
Conclusions:
- HIV infection is highly prevalent in young children presenting with diarrhea in this setting.
- Prolonged diarrhea and the presence of pneumonia and malnutrition are indicators associated with increased likelihood of HIV infection in children.
- Early screening for HIV in children with persistent diarrhea and co-morbidities is recommended for timely management.
Abstract:
Fifty seven children aged 2 years and below admitted to Paediatric ward of Eldoret District Hospital with a diagnosis of diarrhoea were studied for HIV infection. A total of 29 (50.9%) cases were found to be positive with no gender difference. 17 (70.8%) of 24 cases with diarrhoea of over 14 days duration were positive for HIV compared to 12 (36.7%) cases out of 33 cases with diarrhoea of less than 14 days' duration. There was a high (80%) prevalence of HIV positivity rate in patients who presented with pneumonia and malnutrition in addition to diarrhoea when compared to children who presented with diarrhoea and vomiting alone (44.1%).