Utility of clinical parameters to identify HIV infection in infants below ten weeks of age in South Africa : a prospective cohort study
Date
2011-11
Authors
Jaspan, Heather B.
Myer, Landon
Madhi, Shabir A.
Violari, Avy
Gibb, Diana M.
Stevens, Wendy S.
Dobbels, Els
Cotton, Mark F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Background: As HIV-infected infants have high mortality, the World Health Organization now recommends initiating antiretroviral therapy as early as possible in the first year of life. However, in many settings, laboratory diagnosis of HIV in infants is not readily available. We aimed to develop a clinical algorithm for HIV presumptive diagnosis in infants < 10 weeks old using screening data from the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral therapy (CHER) study in South Africa.
HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected exposed infants < 10 weeks of age were identified through Vertical Transmission Prevention programs. Clinical and laboratory data were systematically recorded, groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Fisher's exact tests. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were compiled using combinations of clinical findings.
Results
417 HIV-infected and 125 HIV-exposed, uninfected infants, median age 46 days (IQR 38-55), were included. The median CD4 percentage in HIV-infected infants was 34 (IQR 28-41)%. HIV-infected infants had lower weight-for-age, more lymphadenopathy, oral thrush, and hepatomegaly than exposed uninfected infants (Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.51, 8.8, 5.6 and 23.5 respectively; p < 0.001 for all). Sensitivity of individual signs was low (< 20%) but specificity high (98-100%). If any one of oral thrush, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, diaper dermatitis, weight < 50th centile are present, sensitivity for HIV infection amongst HIV-exposed infants was 86%. These algorithms performed similarly when used to predict severe immune suppression.
Conclusions
A combination of physical findings is helpful in identifying infants most likely to be HIV-infected. This may inform management algorithms and provide guidance for focused laboratory testing in some settings, and should be further validated in these settings and elsewhere.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/11/104
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
Keywords
HIV-infected infants -- Antiretroviral therapy, HIV-infected infants -- Symptoms, Medical protocols -- HIV-positive infants, Vertical transmission prevention programmes -- HIV-infected infants -- South Africa -- Research, Children -- Diseases -- Symptoms -- Research, Infants -- Diseases -- Symptoms -- Research
Citation
Jaspan, H. B. et al. 2011. Utility of clinical parameters to identify HIV infection in infants below ten weeks of age in South Africa: a prospective cohort study. BMC Pediatrics, 11(1):104.