FREQUENCY AND CLINICAL FEATURES OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) IN CHILDREN AT CDF HOSPITAL, HYDERABAD

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and clinical features of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection among children at CDF Hospital, Hyderabad. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place of Study and Duration: The study was carried out in Department of Pediatrics, Bilawal Medical College, CDF Hospital, Hyderabad for six months. Methods: A total of 30 HIV-positive children aged 1 month to 12 years were enrolled using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. All children with HIV infection, regardless of sex, were recruited for the study. HIV antibody testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to confirm HIV infection based on age specific testing criteria. Clinical symptoms such as weight loss, fever, diarrhea, chronic cough, change of voice, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and recurrent pneumonia were evaluated using predefined operational criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were used and frequencies and percentages computed for categorical variables. Results: In the study 30 children with HIV were recruited. The average age of the subjects was 5.6 ± 3.2 years. Of the participants 17 (56.7%) were male and 13 (43.3%) were female. The vertical route of HIV infection was the most frequent mode of HIV acquisition, with 20 (66.7%) children infected through the vertical route. The most common clinical findings were fever (20 children, 66.7%), weight loss (18 children, 60.0%) and recurrent upper respiratory infections (15 children, 50.0%). Co-infections occurred in 12 (40.0%) children and anemia was found in 19 (63.3%) children. Conclusion: Constitutional and respiratory symptoms were common in pediatric HIV infection, especially fever, weight loss and respiratory tract infections.