Opportunistic Infections and Complications in Human Immunodefciency Virus-1-Infected Children Correlation with immune status
Journal Title: Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal - Year 2014, Vol 14, Issue 4
Abstract
Objectives: Te aim of this study was to ascertain the correlation between various opportunistic infections and complications in human immunodefciency virus (HIV)-1-infected children and the immune status of these patients, evaluated by absolute cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count and CD4 percentage. Methods: Tis study was conducted from January 2009 to June 2010 at the Antiretroviral Treatment Centre of the Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care hospital in Rohtak, Haryana, in northern India. A total of 20 HIV-1-infected children aged 4–57 months were studied. Demographic and baseline investigations were performed prior to the start of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A fxed-dose combination of HAART was given based on the patient’s weight. Baseline investigations were repeated after six months of HAART. Results: Tere was a signifcant increase in the patients’ haemoglobin, weight, height and CD4 count after six months of HAART. Signifcant improvements (P <0.05) were also noted in the patients’ immune status, graded according to the World Health Organization. Conclusion: Tis study observed that the severity and frequency of opportunistic complications in paediatric patients with HIV-1 increased with a fall in the CD4 count. Te treatment of opportunistic infections, along with antiretroviral therapy, may lead to both clinical and immunological recovery as well as a decreased incidence of future opportunistic infections. Te CD4 count may give treating physicians an initial idea about the immune status of each child and could also be used as a biological marker of HAART efcacy. Patient compliance must be ensured during HAART as this is a key factor in improving outcomes.
Authors and Affiliations
Jaivinder Yadav| Department of Paediatrics, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India, Sanjeev Nanda| Department of Paediatrics, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India, Deepak Sharma| Department of Paediatrics, Pt. B. D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
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