Research Article
Peterside Oliemen, Kunle-Olowu
Abstract
HIV infection is of major public health concern wor ldwide. Though the prevalence of HIV in Nigeria seems to be stabilizing, a significant number of th e population are still unaware of their status. A prospective study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of HIV in under-fives presenting to UPTH with diarrhoea. Also to determine the risk fac tors for HIV transmission in the seropositive patients. From September 2007 to February 2008, a t otal of 342 under-fives who presented to UPTH with diarrhoea were screened for HIV using the doub le ELISA test. A structured questionnaire was completed by the investigators to assess the risk f actors for infection. Mothers of the seropositive patients were also screened with the same test kits . The majority (89.0%) had acute diarrhoea, 22 (6.0%) had persistent diarrhoea, 16 (5.0%) had chro nic diarrhoea while 64 (18.7%) had dysentery. Thirt y three of the patients tested positive to HIV antibo dies, giving a seroprevalence of 9.6%. Significantl y more HIV positive patients 12 (75%) had chronic dia rrhoea. The presumed mode of HIV transmission in 30 (90.9%) of the patients was vertical. Since diar rhoea is a common feature of HIV infection, all children with diarrhoea should be screened for HIV. Measures aimed at prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV should be intensified.