Diarrhea in children less than two years of age with known HIV status in Kisumu, Kenya
van Eijk, A.M.; Brooks, J.T.; Adcock, P.M.; Garrett, V.; Eberhard, M.; Rosen, D.H.; Ayisi, J.G.; Ochieng, J.B.; Kumar, L.; Gentsch, J.R.; Nahlen, B.L.; Mintz, E.D.; Slutsker, L.
International journal of infectious diseases IJID official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases 14(3): e220-e225
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1878-3511 PMID: 19664950 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2009.06.001Document Number: 215033
To compare the frequency and etiology of diarrhea in children aged less than 2 years with known HIV status. This was a nested cohort study, whereby children were followed during monthly routine and unscheduled visits. The HIV status of children was determined with PCR. A stool culture was obtained from children with diarrhea. A subset of stool samples was examined for parasites and tested for rotavirus. Between 1997 and 2001, 682 children (51.0% male) contributed observation periods with a mean of 47 weeks. Overall there were 198 episodes of diarrhea per 100 child-years of observation (CYO); diarrhea was more common among HIV-positive children than among HIV-negative children (321 vs. 183 episodes/100 CYO, respectively, p<0.01) and was not statistically different for HIV-negative children born to HIV-positive compared with HIV-negative mothers (182 vs. 187 episodes/100 CYO, respectively, p=0.36). For 66.5% of the acute episodes a stool culture was obtained; 27.8% of stool cultures yielded a bacterial pathogen. A positive stool culture was less likely among HIV-positive children compared to children of HIV-negative mothers (20.5% vs. 34.3%, p=0.01). Susceptibility of Salmonella and Shigella to commonly used antibiotics was low. Rotavirus was detected in 13.9% of 202 examined stool samples, and a stool parasite in 3.8% of 394 samples. Diarrhea was associated with 37.8% of child deaths. Diarrhea was more common among HIV-infected children, but was not associated with specific bacterial pathogens. Measures that reduce diarrhea will benefit all children, but may benefit HIV-infected children in particular.
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