A STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AND GROWTH PATTERN AMONG HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN FROM RURAL AREAS ATTENDING GOVT. GENERAL HOSPITAL, VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

Abstract

The present communication deals with the profile of HIV infected children belonging to pre-HAART (pre-Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy) era and HAART era to know the status of anemia and growth pattern who attended the ART centre, Govt. General Hospital, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India. A cross-sectional record based study was carried out in 125 HIV infected children in ART centre from 2009 to 2011. Hemoglobin, height, weight, BMI, waist and hip ratio were calculated according to the standard protocols. The CD4 count was estimated using BD FACS caliber flow cytometer and results were statistically analyzed. According to the present study 125 subjects of age group 1-20 years were chosen. The subjects in pre-HAART era (75 subjects) showed low level of Hb content 6.9 gm/dL in male and 6.3 gm/dL in female subjects; the mean BMI level was 20.43 in male and 18.47 in female subjects and showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in mean CD4 counts from 592 to 790 cells/cmm from baseline count to follow up count after 18 months. The study patients in HAART era (45 subjects) significant decrease (p<0.001) in Hb content from 7.3 to 6.5 gm/dL and significant increase (p<0.05) in BMI level from 18.1 to 22.6 and showed a significant increase (p<0.001) in CD4 counts from 174 to 902 cells/cmm from baseline to follow up treatments. Our study reinforces the finding that anemia, growth pattern of HIV infection in Indian children with prognostic significance.