Objective:

To study and correlate the clinical and immunological profile of HIV in children.

Design:

Prospective. Setting: HIV clinic at a pediatric tertiary care center in an urban metropolis.

Subjects & Methods:

48 HIV positive children between 1½ and 12 years were included with a minimum follow up period of one year.

Results:

Majority of children (45.8% m, n = 22) were under 3 years of age. Recurrent febrile illness and recurrent respiratory infection were the commonest presenting illness 91.7% and 81.3% respectively. Tuberculosis was found in 54.2% (n = 26) and malnutrition was found in 97.9% (n = 47). According to the CDC clinical categorization, majority were in category B (47.9%, n = 23). Baseline mean CD4+ T cell count and total leucocyte count were 459.7 (9 - 3060) and 4046.34 (100 - 15,300) respectively. 52.1% by CD4+ T cell count and 68.8% by CD4+ T cell percentage were in immunological category III.

Conclusion:

The clinical presentation in children is different from that in adults with rapid progression and late diagnosis in children. There is also a significant increase in immune response with simple supportive measures.

Ooty Pedicon 2005 - Conference Abstracts.Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2005 [cited 01 December 2005];2. Available from:
http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/Conference_abstracts/
hiv_clinical.asp