Psycho-social aspects of HIV infection and AIDS in multiple transfused thalassemic children.

Two hundred and three multi-transfused children with thalassemia attending the thalassemia clinic of the Charak Palika Hospital, New Delhi were screened for human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) antibodies by ELISA test. All positive cases were confirmed by the Western blot test. Of the 203 children screened, 17 (8.37%) were HIV seropositive and the other 3 children referred to the AIIMS were from neighbouring states. These children were compared with 20 age matched HIV negative thalassemics as controls. Of the 20 HIV positive children, four were diagnosed to have clinical AIDS according to the WHO criteria. The clinical features were similar to those described in pediatric AIDS from other parts of the world. This paper describes the clinical features, behavioural problems, cognitive functions and developmental milestones of the children with AIDS.