Paediatric HIV/AIDS seen at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria

Background/Objective: Paediatric HIV/AIDS is an escalating problem of frightening proportion in Nigeria, although not much has been reported from our center. Method: A retrospective study of 35 children with the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS admitted into the Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) over a 3.4 year period between March 1998 and June 2001 was undertaken in order to determine the most common mode of presentation and also the most prevalent complicating infection among these patients. Results: The mean age of the patients was 2±1.8 years (range 2-144 months), with the majority 30 (85.7%) aged three years and below, and a male to female ratio of 2.1:1. The probable mode of infection was vertical in 88.6% patients, through blood transfusion in 8.6%, while the source of infection could not be established in one (2.8%) due to inadequate data. Multiple symptoms at presentation were common with fever and cough being the most frequent, occurring in 82.8% of patients, followed by diarrhea in 71.4% and weight loss in 60.0% of cases. The most common signs were wasting which was found in 74.3%, generalized lymphadenopathy in 68.6% and pyrexia in 54.3%. Commonly diagnosed infections were oral candidiasis, pneumonia and tuberculosis, seen in 60.0%, 45.7% and 31.4% respectively. Nine (25.7%) out of the 35 children died, 7(20.0%) were discharged against medical advice, 19 (54.3%) improved and were discharged to follow up, but all except four have been lost to follow up. Conclusion: Paediatric HIV/AIDS is becoming a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in our environment. The prevention of HIV infection in women particularly in the reproductive age group would go a long way in controlling the disease in Nigeria. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, paediatric, morbidity, mortality Annals of African Medicine Vol. 5(2) 2006: 73-7