Related Experiment Videos
Impact of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 on common pediatric illnesses in Zambia
Insights
Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is common in Zambian children with serious illnesses. HIV-1 positive children had higher mortality rates compared to HIV-1 negative children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pediatric admissions at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, are frequently due to common illnesses like pneumonia, malaria, malnutrition, and diarrhea.
- Tuberculosis is also a significant cause of pediatric admissions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in children admitted with common pediatric illnesses.
- To compare HIV-1 seroprevalence in ill children with those presenting for traumatic injuries.
- To investigate the association between HIV-1 seropositivity and in-patient mortality in pediatric admissions.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted from October 1990 to July 1991.
- Mothers of pediatric admissions were interviewed and counselled for child enrollment.
- HIV-1 serostatus was determined for 1266 enrolled children.
Main Results:
- The overall HIV-1 seroprevalence among admitted children was 28%, significantly higher than the 9% found in children with traumatic injuries.
- Elevated HIV-1 seroprevalence was observed in children with tuberculosis (69%), malnutrition (41%), pneumonia (28%), and diarrhea (24%).
- In-patient mortality was significantly higher in HIV-1 seropositive children (19%) compared to HIV-1 seronegative children (9%).
Conclusions:
- HIV-1 infection is highly prevalent in Zambian children with common pediatric illnesses.
- HIV-1 seropositivity is associated with increased mortality in hospitalized children.
- These findings highlight the substantial burden of HIV-1 in pediatric populations with severe illnesses.
Abstract:
The seroprevalence of HIV-1 and in-patient mortality in children with common pediatric illnesses was studied. Between October 1990 and July 1991 at the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka, Zambia, mothers of all pediatric admissions were interviewed and counselled for enrollment of their children into the study. Of a total of 1323 children seen, 1266 children (600 female and 666 male) were enrolled into the study. Pneumonia (28 per cent), malaria (24 per cent), malnutrition (18 per cent), and diarrhoea (10 per cent) constituted over 80 per cent of the total admission diagnoses. Tuberculosis (5 per cent) was the fifth commonest cause of admission (61 out of 1266 children). A total of 354 out of the 1266 (28 per cent) children were found to be seropositive for HIV-1 compared to a seroprevalence rate of 9 per cent in children attending accident and emergency for traumatic injuries (P=0.001). High HIV-1 seroprevalence rates were found in children with tuberculosis (69 per cent), malnutrition (41 per cent), pneumonia (28 per cent). and diarrhoea (24 per cent). The overall mortality in hospital among HIV-seropositive children (19 per cent) was significantly higher than those who were HIV-seronegative (9 per cent) (P = < 0.0001).