Paediatric AIDS in Jos, Nigeria.

A retrospective study of all children admitted with the diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) between August 1995 and October 1996 was carried out. Forty three (1.5% out of a total of 2793 children were diagnosed with HIV infection during the study period. However, only the records of 23 out. Of the 43 positive cases were available for analysis. Of the 23 cases whose records were available, 8 presented in 1995, while the remaining 15 presented between January and October 1996. The ages of the children ranged between 1 and 15 years (Mean 3.0 +/- 4.1 Years). There were 12 males and 11 females (M:F = 1:1). Sixteen (69.6 percent) out of the 23 patients were aged between 1 month and 2 years. Sixteen (69.6%) of the 23 patients acquired the infection vertically, 2 (8.9%) acquired the infection through blood transfusion, 1 (4.3%) from sexual abuse, while in 4 (17.4%) the source of infection could not be established due to inadequate data. Majority of the children presented with weight loss, chronic diarrhoea and fever, while the common findings included wasting, oralthrush, pallor, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Six (26.1 percent) out of the 23 children died, 8 (34.8 percent) were discharged against medical advice and have not been seen since, 9 (39.1%) improved and were discharged to out-patient clinic followup, but all except 2 of these have been lost to follow-up. It is concluded that AIDS is increasingly becoming a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in our environment. All children in our environment who present with features of malnutrition should be screened for AIDS. Campaigns aimed at preventing vertical (maternal-child) transmission, including health education of young men and women on the risk of unprotected sex must be vigorously pursued and sustained.