[Clinical features of 66 children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical features of pediatric acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS).


METHODS
The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data of 66 children with AIDS were retrospectively studied.


RESULTS
Of the 66 patients, 46 (69.7%) were male and 20 (30.3%) were female, with a mean age of 8.7 years (ranged 2-16 years). The mean age at diagnosis was 7.7 years (ranged 2-15 years). Vertical transmission as the route of infection was documented in 48 cases (72.7%). Fourteen children (21.2%) were infected through blood or blood products. The route of infection could not be identified in 4 cases (6.1%). Body weight loss was noted in 43 cases (65.2%), anemia in 42 cases (63.7%), fever in 40 cases (60.6%), fatigue in 38 cases (57.6%), rash in 31 cases (47.0%), chronic cough in 28 cases (12.1%), chronic diarrhea in 24 cases (36.4%), CNS involvement in 16 cases (24.2%), oral thrush in 13 cases (19.7%), and hepatosplenomegaly in 12 cases (18.2%). Body height of 30 cases (45.4%) and body weight of 26 cases (39.4%) ranked the lower level. The immune system was severely suppressed in 59 cases (89.4%) and moderately suppressed in 7 cases (10.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Vertical transmission remained the most common route of pediatric HIV infection. There were various clinical manifestations in children with AIDS. The immune systems of the majority of children with this disorder were severely suppressed.
Li
Zai-Cun
ZC
Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
Zhao
Yan
Y
Dou
Zhi-Hui
ZH
Yu
Lan
L
Wu
Hao
H
Zhang
Fu-Jie
FJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D015431:Weight Loss