Clinical characteristics of HIV-infected children seen at a University Hospital in Medellin, Colombia, 1997-2005

Abstract

Introduction: HIV infection of children was first diagnosed in 1982. The first Colombian case was described in 1987. It has become a serious public health problem, especially in the pediatric population. Its clinical manifestations include both infectious and non-infectious diseases, secondary malnutrition, and neurological affection.

Methods: a descriptive, retrospective, crosssectional study was carried out based on the medical histories of 54 HIV-infected children seen at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, in Medellín, Colombia, between 1997 and 2005.

Results: out of the 54 children 28 (51.9%) were females. Ages were between 24 days and 108 months. Twenty nine patients (53.7%) were index cases. In 52 (96.3%) transmission of the infection had been vertical. The most frequently found clinical stage was B (36 children; 66.7%). Concerning the immunological situation, 17 children (31.5%) were in the category 3, namely, severe immunosupression. Twelve patients (22.2%) were severely malnourished. Neumonia was the first clinical manifestation (39 patients; 72.2%), followed by gastrointestinal, lymphatic, nervous, and renal manifestations; also present were hematological, cardiac and skin problems. Fever (above 38 ºC) was present in 38 patients (70.4%), either alone of along with other symptoms or signs.