title: [Follow-up of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in a rural area of Togo].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the monitoring of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in rural areas of Togo and the effectiveness of the treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective descriptive study, conducted at the Luis Scrosospi Center in Kouvé from 15 November, 2008, through 14 November, 2009, examined the records of children who had been receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied the records of 55 children. The sex ratio was 0.9, and the primary opportunistic infections were respiratory infections and malaria. At treatment initiation, their average age was 6 years and 3 months, the average CD4 T cell count 358/mm(3), and the mean weight 12.9 kg. The hemoglobin level was less than 8 g/dL in 31%. All children received a nutritional kit monthly. The antiretroviral therapy for 52 children was a combination of stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine. The adherence rate during the first 12 months was 80% (44/55 children). The mean weight gain was 860 g (below -3SD) at 3 months, 1,550 g (between -3SD and -2SD) at 6 months, and 1 270 g (between -2SD and -1SD) at 12 months of treatment. The severe acute malnutrition rate fell from 60% at treatment initiation to 56% at 3 months, 47% at 6 months, and 25% at 12 months. Also after 12 months, the CD4 T cell count had risen in 60% of the children. The main side effects were peripheral neuropathy (29%) and headaches (18%). Eight children died (14%) during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Monitoring of HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy is possible in Togo's rural areas and should be encouraged for it will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, CHR de Tsévié, université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo. edjadou@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Djadou
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Azoumah
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Douti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koudaya
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tatagan-Agbi
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Agbèrè
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012423:Rural Health; D018119:Stavudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014037:Togo
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; D019829:Nevirapine; D018119:Stavudine