title: Profile of HIV infected children from Delhi and their response to antiretroviral treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (i) To study the clinical and immunological profile of HIV infected children attending the ART centre; (ii) To correlate CD4 count with clinical staging at diagnosis; and, iii) To study the clinical and immunological response to antiretroviral treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres of two tertiary care hospitals of Delhi.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 children attending the centres between December 2008 to June 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical features, immunological profile (CD4 count) and response to ART were recorded in a structured proforma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average age of enrolled children was 6.24 y (range 1-14 years) and mode of transmission was parent to child in 92%. Most common clinical presentation was fever (83%), cough (50.8%) and diarrhea (38.9%). Tuberculosis was the most common opportunistic infection seen in 11% of children. 59% of enrolled children were malnourished. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) was initiated in 33 children. Children who were initiated on ART had a significant improvement in both clinical and immunological staging at the 6 months follow up. Immunological response (rise in CD4 count) to ART was better in children with lesser degree of immunosuppression. The measure of agreement between the clinical and immunological stage at presentation was poor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baseline CD4 counts rather than clinical staging can be a primary determinant for initiation of antiretroviral treatment in HIV infected children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India. sunilgomber@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gomber
authors.forename: Jaya Shankar
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: Jagdish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Anand
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents