Cytomegalovirus co-infection with HIV in children and adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to accelerate HIV disease progression. It has the potential of being a killer disease or a silent lifetime companion in HIV patients. There is dearth of information on CMV prevalence among HIV infected children and adolescents in our environment. We therefore conducted this study to determine its sero-prevalence, and risk factors for co-infection among HIV infected children and adolescents on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in our center. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study of HIV-infected children and adolescents aged 2 months to 18 years on HAART was conducted over a 6 month period between October 2017 and March 2018 in our health facility. Blood samples of subjects were screened for CMV IgM using commercial test kits. Biodata of subjects, CD4 cell count, and viral load were collected into a designed proforma, and statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 22.0.Result: A total of 161 HIV-infected children and adolescents were recruited, 103 (64.0%) were males, 83 (51.6%) were between the ages of 5 and 0.05). Multivariate analysis however did not show any significant difference in age, weight, length/height, and systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: The prevalence of active CMV infections among HIV infected children and adolescents on HAART in our centre is high. Low CD4 cell count and high viral load were not associated with active CMV disease, and no risk factor for co-infection was also identified. Identifying those with primary/active infection will be necessary for possible treatment with anti-herpes drugs before development of reactivated CMV disease. Keywords: CMV; HIV; co-infection; anti-retroviral; children; adolescents