HIV-negative Child Research Articles

Fertility desires of antiretroviral therapy-attending HIV-positive women and its associated factors in Harari region, Ethiopia.

The desire to have children among mothers living with HIV remains a serious public health issue in nations with low coverage for antiretroviral therapy and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, even if it is feasible to have an HIV-negative child. Therefore, this study aimed to assess fertility desire and associated factors among antiretroviral therapy-attending HIV-positive women at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, in Harari, Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed among 639 anti retro-viral therapy attending HIV - positive women by systematic random sampling method selected from June 15 to November 30, 2020. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify the associated factors with fertility desire. Descriptive results were presented in percentages, whereas analytical results were reported in adjusted ORs (AORs) with a 95% CI. At p=0.05, statistical significance was declared. A total of 639 participants were included in the study; 69.5%(95% CI 65.7 to 72.9%) of the participants had fertility desire. Younger age (<35 years) (AOR=2.35, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.35), married women (AOR=3.02, 95% CI 1.32 to 12.25), childless women (AOR=2.86, 95% CI 1.17 to 4.82) and women whose duration of HIV diagnosis was ≤5 years (AOR=0.41, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.71) were significantly associated with fertility desire. The majority of the study participants have a desire to have children. In light of the high prevalence of fertility desire among antiretroviral therapy-attending HIV-positive women, it is recommended to counsel younger women on reproductive planning and encourage partner testing.

Time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition and its predictors among children aged 6-59 months at Asosa general hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. A retrospective follow up study.

BackgroundSevere Acute Malnutrition (SAM) has become a major public health challenge in developing countries including Ethiopia, especially among the underprivileged population. Ethiopia is among the developing countries with the highest burden of acute malnutrition among under-five children. Though, plenty of studies were done on the magnitude of acute malnutrition among under-five children in Ethiopia, there is a limited evidence on time to recovery from SAM and its predictors among children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area.ObjectivesThe study was aimed to assess the time to recovery from SAM and its predictors among children aged 6–59 months at Asosa general hospital (AGH), Benishangul Gumuz, Ethiopia.MethodsA Five years retrospective follow-up study design was employed among 454 children admitted with SAM in AGH from January 2015 to December 2019. The data were extracted from the patient medical records using checklist. The data were coded and entered into Epi-Data 3.1; then exported to STATA/SE-14 for analysis. Proportional Cox regression was performed to identify predictors of recovery time. A proportional hazard assumption was checked. Variables with AHR at 95% CI and P-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable Cox proportional regression was considered as significant predictors of recovery time.FindingsAmong the 454 included records of children with SAM, 65.4% (95%CI: 50.1, 69.2) of them were recovered at the end of the follow-up with a median recovery time of 15 IQR(11–18)days. The incidence rate of recovery was 5.28 per 100 child days’ observations. Being HIV Negative (AHR = 2.19: 95% CI 1.28, 3.73), Marasmic (AHR = 1.69: 95% CI 1.18, 2.42), and marasmic-kwashiorkor child (AHR = 1.60: 95% CI (1.09, 2.37) independently predicted recovery time.ConclusionsThough the time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition was in the acceptable range, the proportion of recovery was found to be low in the study area compared to sphere standard. The prognosis of children with severe acute malnutrition was determined by the HIV status of the child and the type of malnutrition experienced. Further strengthening of malnutrition therapeutic centers and routine checkup of the nutritional status of HIV positive children should be emphasized to reduce child mortality and morbidity from under-nutrition.

Talaromyces marneffei infection associated with bronchiolitis obliterans in an HIV-negative child: a case report

BackgroundTalaromyces marneffei is an opportunistic pathogen that infects immunodeficient and immunocompromised patients. We presented a pediatric patient with a diagnosis of T. marneffei infection who was followed up in the Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre.Case presentationThe child was a 5-year-old girl with persistent cough and gasping over 2 months who was confirmed with T. marneffei infection by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture and high-throughput sequencing technology. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was negative according to a serum-specific antibody test. She was treated with amphotericin B and itraconazole as antifungal agents, with good clinical response. At follow-up, high-resolution computed tomography showed a mosaic sign in the whole lung field with a diagnosis of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) as the sequela. She has a mutated COPA gene with uncertain pathogenic potential on whole-exome sequencing.ConclusionsClinicians should consider PIBO as a possible sequela in an HIV-negative paediatric patient with T. marneffei infection.

Addressing Infertility with Uterine Transplant

Addressing Infertility with Uterine Transplant

Needs must: living donor liver transplantation from an HIV-positive mother to her HIV-negative child in Johannesburg, South Africa

The world’s first living donor liver transplant from an HIV-positive mother to her HIV-negative child, performed by our team in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA) in 2017, was necessitated by disease...

Bayesian Modelling on Incidence of Pregnancy among HIV/AIDS Patient Women at Adare Hospital, Hawassa, Ethiopia

HIV/AIDS is the most serious diseases human kind has ever faced and a public problem, particularly, for women of childbearing age. For HIV infected women, the prospects of getting pregnant and having an HIV negative baby could be significantly improved with the increasing of the availability of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). Even though, ART treatment has shown significant effect of clinical importance to reduce the risk of mother to child transmission of HIV but, HIV infected Women remain poorly understood or they fear to be pregnant and having HIV negative child. To the authors’ knowledge, no study examined incidence of pregnancy among women on ART follow-up in Ethiopia. In response, we conducted a study to explore the incidence and potential predictors of pregnancy. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of pregnancy among HIV/AIDS patient women under ART follow-up. A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on secondary data that reviews or visits medical chart of HIV/ADIS patient women aged 15-49 years under ART follow-up from April 2008 to February 2015. Out of 720 total patient women, a sample of size 328 was selected by using simple random sampling technique. Bayesian estimation were used for binary logistic regression model to identify the significant factors of incidence of pregnancy. The Gibbs sampler algorithm was implemented by WinBUGS software to solve approximate properties of the marginal posterior distributions for each parameter in Bayesian estimation. The results of this study revealed 21.3% of women got pregnancy during the follow-up. From Bayesian logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of incidence of pregnancy were: WHO clinical stage, marital status, contraception use, number of child alive before ART follow-up, CD4 cell count, time of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) follow-up, educational level, spouse's HIV status, occupation and age (at p=0.05). In this study, when age of the women increased, the probability of becoming pregnant was decreased and advanced WHO clinical stage were associated with decreased incidence of pregnancy. Time on ART was a strong predictor of becoming pregnant: longer time on ART was associated with increased probability of becoming pregnant. Educational level of women was positively related with incidence of pregnancy that is, women who had college and above educational level was more likely to become pregnant. When CD4 count increased, incidence of pregnancy also increased and married women had more chance to become pregnant. The predictors identified in this study can be used to care for those HIV/AIDS patient women who want to have baby.

Pulmonary penicilliosis in HIV negative child simulating pulmonary tuberculosis

Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei) is a rare human pathogen, unique among species of penicillium by its thermal dimorphism and its propensity to infect the lungs and reticulo endothelial system and to proliferate within histiocytes either in healthy or immunocompromised hosts. Penicillium marneffei is a rare in HIV negative child. Clinical characteristics of study were 9 years old male presented with fever, cough and loss of appetite for 6 months that persisted despite ante tuberculosis treatment. Broncho alveolar lavage showed typical elements and culture yielded the growth of penicillium marneffei. Outcome of this study was child responded to amphotericin and did not relapse on itraconozole prophylaxis. Penicilliosis mimics pulmonary tuberculosis.

HIV and pregnancy

The use and success of antiretroviral treatment in HIV-positive people has led to a reduction of vertical transmission of HIV. Pregnancy in HIV-positive women became more common. The success of prophylactic measures has led to a dramatic change in care of HIV-positive women. Today, a HIV-positive mother giving birth to a HIV-negative child is standard of care in industrialized countries. We describe the impact of an HIV-infection in pregnancy and outline the most important diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

HSV oropharyngeal shedding among HIV-infected children in Tanzania.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) oral shedding has not been studied among HIV-positive children in Africa. We sought to evaluate longitudinal oral HSV reactivation in HIV-positive and -negative children. Twenty HIV-positive antiretroviral-naive and 10 HIV-negative children aged 3-12 years in Tanzania were followed prospectively for 14 days. Oral swabs were collected daily and submitted for HSV DNA PCR analysis. Clinical data were collected via chart review and daily diaries. HSV DNA was detected in 10 (50%) of HIV-positive and 4 (40%) of HIV-negative children. Children who shed HSV had virus detected in a median of 21.4% of samples; shedding was intermittent. Median CD4 count among HIV-infected children was 667 cells/µL in those with positive HSV DNA and 886 cells/µL in those who were negative (p = 0.6). Of the HIV-positive children reporting prior sores, five (83%) had positive HSV swabs, whereas the one HIV-negative child with prior sores did not have a PCR-positive swab. HSV is detected frequently in children with and without HIV. HIV-infected children reporting oral sores have a high rate of HSV detection. Given the proven strong interactions between HIV and HSV, further study of co-infection with these viruses is warranted in children.

A systematic review examining whether interventions are effective in reducing cognitive delay in children infected and affected with HIV

Cognitive delay has been recorded in children infected and affected by HIV. This finding is well established, yet few countries report provision of special educational interventions for this group of children. The general rehabilitation literature describes an array of effective interventions for children with learning difficulties. These have rarely been adapted for children affected by HIV, despite their growing numbers. A systematic review was conducted to examine effective interventions for cognitive delay in children (under 18 years) infected with HIV and/or exposed to HIV (HIV-negative child born to an HIV-positive mother). A keyword search of electronic databases with reference follow-up generated 1745 hits. These abstracts were screened for relevance, resulting in 17 papers available for shortlisting. Studies were then included if they were randomised control trials, were longitudinal, pre/post or cohort studies and presented empirical data on an intervention for children infected by HIV or exposed to HIV and had at least one cognitive measure. Carer interventions were included if they had at least one child cognitive measure. Of the 17 papers, 4 met the inclusion criteria based on design and quality. Interventions included cognitive rehearsal, home-based stimulation and parental support. All four interventions showed at least one significant child improvement at follow-up. Despite such improvements, many children still scored within the disability range at follow-up. These results show that the effective interventions are available and should be scaled up to meet the needs of children. Complex interventions are not sufficiently studied. This review suggests an ongoing need to build evidence-based interventions, but calls on evidence-based programmes to be initiated for HIV-positive and HIV-affected children.

Patient-Reported Factors Facilitating Participation in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Programs in Kara, Togo, West Africa

Background: Despite efforts to expand prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in resource-limited settings, only 53% of women in sub-Saharan Africa receive adequate PMTCT services. Understanding factors that enable successful program completion are crucial to improving adherence rates to PMTCT programs in these settings. Using a positive deviance approach, we explored patient and provider’s perspectives on factors enabling women to successfully access and adhere to PMTCT services to identify areas of program improvement and further reduce HIV transmission. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 health care workers (HCWs) at two health centers in Kara, Togo and 34 women who had successfully completed the PMTCT program at those facilities. Women were identified using purposive sampling and content theme analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Knowledge and belief in the potential to give birth to an HIV-negative child, supported by facilitating factors on the individual and community levels, was the cornerstone to women’s PMTCT program success. Effective program education and peer-to-peer interactions fostered the participants’ knowledge and belief in PMTCT, with the resulting internal motivation driving continued participation and adherence. The welcoming environment, availability of peer support groups and financial assistance from the health facility, further facilitated success, with women using this facility-based community to seek advice and support from HCWs and peers. Financial, physical, and emotional support from relatives was also important in ensuring unhindered access. Finally, the faith-based communities’ acceptance and support for HIV-positive women further encouraged participants to adhere to the program. Conclusion: Understanding and believing in the ability to have an HIV-negative baby was the most important facilitator for PMTCT program adherence. This led to internal motivation that was continually reinforced through facility and community supportive environments focused on addressing barriers. Efforts to improve PMTCT success should focus on all of these factors through a patient-centered approach.

Factors associated with HIV infection among children born to mothers on the prevention of mother to child transmission programme at Chitungwiza Hospital, Zimbabwe, 2008

BackgroundZimbabwe is one of the five countries worst affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic with HIV infection contributing increasingly to childhood morbidity and mortality. Among the children born to HIV positive mothers participating in the PMTCT programme, 25% tested positive to HIV. We investigated factors associated with HIV infection among children born to mothers on the PMTCT programme.MethodsA 1:1 unmatched case–control study was conducted at Chitungwiza Hospital, Zimbabwe, 2008. A case was defined as a child who tested HIV positive, born to a mother who had been on PMTCT programme. A control was a HIV negative child born to a mother who had been on PMTCT programme. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, risk factors associated with HIV infection and immunization status.ResultsA total of 120 mothers were interviewed. Independent risk factors associated with HIV infection among children included maternal CD4 count of less than 200 during pregnancy [aOR = 7.1, 95% CI (2.6-17)], mixed feeding [aOR = 29, 95% CI (4.2-208)], being hospitalized since birth [aOR = 2.9, 95% CI (1.2-4.8)] whilst being exclusively breast fed for less than 6 months [aOR = 0.1 (95% CI 0.03-0.4)] was protective.ConclusionsHIV infection among children increased if the mother’s CD4 count was ≤200 cells/μL and if the child was exposed to mixed feeding. Breastfeeding exclusively for less than six months was protective. We recommended exclusive breast feeding period for the first six months and stop breast feeding after 6 months if affordable, sustainable and safe.

Subcutaneous Nodules as Initial Presentation of Burkitt Lymphoma in HIV-negative Child

Burkitt lymphoma (BL), an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, usually presents with large extranodal masses involving jaw bones, intestines and central nervous system. There are 3 main types of BL: endemic, sporadic, and immunodeficiency variant. Although each variant frequently involves extranodal site, cutaneous involvement is distinctly rare. Most of the previously reported cases with cutaneous involvement occurred at relapse, or in an immunocompromised host. The mode of spread may be direct extension or hematogenous spread. We report a 17-year-old boy who presented with multiple large subcutaneous nodules as initial manifestation of BL that may have been due to hematogenous spread.

Maternal HIV disclosure to HIV-uninfected children in rural South Africa: a pilot study of a family-based intervention

BackgroundAs access to treatment increases, large numbers of HIV-positive parents are raising HIV-negative children. Maternal HIV disclosure has been shown to have benefits for mothers and children, however, disclosure rates remain low with between 30-45% of mothers reporting HIV disclosure to their children in both observational and intervention studies. Disclosure of HIV status by parent to an HIV-uninfected child is a complex and challenging psychological and social process. No intervention studies have been designed and tested in Southern Africa to support HIV-positive parents to disclose their status, despite this region being one of the most heavily affected by the HIV epidemic.MethodThis paper describes the development of a family-centred, structured intervention to support mothers to disclose their HIV status to their HIV-negative school-aged children in rural South Africa, an area with high HIV prevalence. The intervention package includes printed materials, therapeutic tools and child-friendly activities and games to support age-appropriate maternal HIV disclosure, and has three main aims: (1) to benefit family relationships by increasing maternal HIV disclosure; (2) to increase children’s knowledge about HIV and health; (3) to improve the quality of custody planning for children with HIV-positive mothers. We provide the theoretical framework for the intervention design and report the results of a small pilot study undertaken to test its acceptability in the local context.ResultsThe intervention was piloted with 24 Zulu families, all mothers were HIV-positive and had an HIV-negative child aged 6–9 years. Lay counsellors delivered the six session intervention over a six to eight week period. Qualitative data were collected on the acceptability, feasibility and the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing disclosure, health promotion and custody planning. All mothers disclosed something to their children: 11/24 disclosed fully using the words "HIV" while 13/24 disclosed partially using the word "virus".ConclusionThe pilot study found the intervention was feasible and acceptable to mothers and counsellors, and provides preliminary evidence that participation in the intervention encouraged disclosure and health promotion. The pilot methodology and small sample size has limitations and further research is required to test the potential of this intervention. A larger demonstration project with 300 families is currently underway.

Fertility Desires Among HIV-Infected Men and Women in Los Angeles County: Client Needs and Provider Perspectives

Combination antiretroviral therapy for persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) has extended life expectancy, and enabled PLHA to live productive lives that can include having children. Despite calls to address childbearing for PLHA there has been limited attention to developing safe conception programs. This research sought to assess the childbearing desires of PLHA and the experiences of health care providers serving this population. Research entailed a brief cross-sectional client survey given to HIV-infected men and women over age 18 at two Los Angeles County clinics administered over an 8-week period. Focus group discussions were conducted with providers at each clinic site. Although 39% of the 93 clients surveyed reported a desire to have children, two-thirds of clients had not discussed their desires, or methods of safe conception, with providers. Providers reported challenges in providing safe conception services in resource poor settings where clients cannot afford assisted fertility services and in the absence of national, state, or county guidelines for safe conception. They noted complex and varied client circumstances and a critical need for provider training in safe conception. Guidelines that focus on safe conception and harm reduction strategies as well as the legal ramifications of counseling on these practices are needed. HIV providers need training and patients need educational tools and workshops informing them of the risks, challenges, and options available to them and their partners to safely conceive and bear an HIV-negative child.

Mycobacterium bovis BCG-Russia Clinical Isolate with Noncanonical Spoligotyping Profile

<i>Mycobacterium bovis</i> BCG-Russia Clinical Isolate with Noncanonical Spoligotyping Profile

Plasmablastic lymphoma of oral cavity in a HIV‐negative child

Plasmablastic lymphoma of oral cavity in a HIV‐negative child

Concomitant Mycobacterium avium Infection and Hodgkin’s Disease in a Lymph Node from an HIV-negative Child

We report a case of an immunocompetent child with simultaneously an infection with Mycobacterium avium and Hodgkin's disease in a cervical lymph node. A positive PCR result for M. avium on a biopsy of the lymph node directed the definitive diagnosis for both etiologies and avoided a possible dissemination of this infection after chemotherapy was started.

Modern microbiological methods in diagnosis of adverse reactions after BCG vaccination. Case reports

The attenuated bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is administered worldwide to prevent tuberculosis and is considered to have an excellent safety profile. In Poland, since 1955 BCG mass vaccinations have been compulsory. More than 95% newborns and 80% of older children of the population have been vaccinated. Complications of vaccination are uncommon. Although BCG has been used safely for many years, it can cause disease in humans, especially those with cellular immunodeficiencies. The risks associated with BCG vaccination include local complications, extraregional localized disease, and disseminated BCG disease. Identification of M. bovis BCG in laboratory is a very difficult process. Routine identification of mycobacterial isolates in clinical laboratories involves culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex which includes M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum and M. microti and the vaccine strain M.bovis BCG. Most laboratories cannot quickly differentiate between BCG and other members of M. tuberculosis complex and some cases of BCG complications in children may be considered and treated as tuberculosis. Because of difficulties in proper identification of BCG strains isolated from the patients, the prevalence of BCG infections is not know exactly. Knowledge of BCG infection would be of particular interest to the clinician responsible for the therapy. We describe the several methods using in mycobacterial laboratory for identification and suggest the modern algorithm of BCG strains identification including mycolic acids profile by HPLC and 14C PZA resistance methods. The methods allowed us fast and accurate identify M. bovis BCG infection in 5 children which have been described in our paper. Preliminary diagnosis for four children among five tested was tuberculosis. One immunocompromised HIV negative child died, one still excretes BCG bacilli. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BCG complication (AEFI) in Polish children in which HPLC and 14 C PZA methods have been used for rapid identification of M. bovis BCG infection and/or complication.

Effects of vertical HIV infection on the persistence of anti-HBs after a schedule of three doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

Anti-HBs persistence following HBV vaccination among HIV-positive children has never been systematically studied in central Brazil. An historical cohort study was performed aiming to evaluate persistence of anti-HBs in HIV-positive children in comparison with an HIV-negative child group. Fifty-eight HIV-positive and 116 HIV-negative individuals were enrolled. Birth weight, breast-feeding duration, and the time elapsed since the last hepatitis B vaccine doses were similar between the groups. Fourteen (24%) out of 58 HIV-positive participants were anti-HBs positive and 101 (87%) out of 116 were HIV-negative (p<0.001). Among anti-HBs-positive individuals, the geometric mean titres were 118 and 298 mIU/mL, respectively to HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups (p=0.04). These results disclose a worrying picture regarding the failure of standard HBV vaccination among Brazilian HIV-infected children.