[Digestive pathology in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in Santiago de Chile].
BACKGROUND
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemiology has changed, affecting an increasing number of children. As in adults, the disease predominantly affects the digestive and respiratory systems.


OBJECTIVE
To report the gastrointestinal problems in HIV infected pediatric patients.


METHODS
Twenty four HIV infected children (nine male, aged 1 to 12 years old, followed for 1 to 170 months), are reported. This group has been under care by a multiprofessional team.


RESULTS
Oral candidiasis was present in 21 (88%), esophagic candidiasis in 3 (13%), oral ulcers in 4 (17%). Diarrhea was observed in 18 children (75%) and in eight, it had a chronic evolution. Cryptosporidium parvum was the most frequent agent found in six cases (1 with acute and 5 with chronic diarrhea). Schlerosing cholangiopathy was observed in one case, with a fatal outcome, in association to microsporidiosis. Upper endoscopy was done in 11 patients, demonstrating microscopic inflammatory changes in esophagic, gastric and duodenal epithelia in all.


CONCLUSIONS
Digestive problems are common in HIV infected pediatric patients. They must be always sought actively. Endoscopy is a valuable tool for the early diagnosis of these problems.
Tassara
Renzo
R
Departamento de Pediatría, Campus Occidente, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Servicio de Salud Metropolitano Occidente, Minsal. rtassara@machi.med.uchile.cl
Alarcón
Teresa
T
Larrañaga
Carmen
C
Wu
Elba
E
Alvarez
Ana M
AM
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology