Comparison of previous and present World Health Organization clinical staging criteria in HIV-infected Malawian children.
In many settings, HIV infected children are looked after with limited access to CD4 cell count or viral load. The decision to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) is made clinically, based on the WHO paediatric staging criteria, which were revised in 2006. Results of using new and old criteria were compared. Of 694 children, 626 (90.2%) fulfilled criteria to start ART when applying the new WHO staging guidelines, whereas 330 (47.6%) children were eligible for ART when using the old WHO criteria. This signifies a marked rise in the number of paediatric patients qualifying for ART on clinical grounds.
Poerksen
Goenke
G
Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Nyirenda
Maggie
M
Pollock
Louisa
L
Blencowe
Hannah
H
Tembo
Paul
P
Chesshyre
Emily
E
Jefferis
Oliver
O
Kenny
Julia
J
Moons
Peter
P
Bunn
James
J
Molyneux
Elizabeth
E
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load; D014944:World Health Organization
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents