World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION IN HIV INFECTED CHILDREN AND ITS CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STAGING OF THE DISEASE

Dr.D.Manikyamba*, Dr.A. Satyavani, Dr. A. Krishna Prasad, Dr. M. Jhancy, Dr. G. Rajasekhar Reddy, Dr. S. Sunil

ABSTRACT

Introduction and Aim: Malnutrition is an important comorbid condition in HIV and can be associated with increased risk of opportunistic infections and even interfere with response to ART. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in HIV infected children and to its correlation with clinical and immunological staging of the disease. Methodology: This was a cross sectional observational study which included HIV positive children of below 15 years attending ART centre or pediatric department, GGH, KKD. For the enrolled children anthropometric data was taken and CD4 count was done to all children. Results: The overall prevalence of malnutrition in HIV positive children was 79%. The prevalence of malnutrition was higher in females (84%), than in males (74%). There was fair correlation between nutritional status and clinical and immunological staging of the disease in children. Conclusion: The prevalence of malnutrition was high in HIV infected children of all age groups. Nutritional interventions started early in course of disease can delay the progression of disease.

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