title: Clinical, nutritional and immunological characteristics of HIV-infected children in an area of high HIV prevalence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical, nutritional and neurodevelopment status of HIV-infected children in a high HIV prevalence area.
  
  
  METHODS
  All HIV-infected children under 15 years of age attending an outpatient clinic of Mozambique between April and May 2010 were recruited. Clinical data were collected and physical examination was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 140 children were recruited. The median age at HIV diagnosis was 2.1 years. Fifty-one percent of the children were classified in WHO clinical Stages 3 or 4. Median age of antiretroviral treatment commencement was 3.9 years. Overall, 68% were undernourished, mainly stunted. Forty-four percent failed to pass the national psychomotor developmental test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pathways for early HIV diagnosis and start of antiretrovirals in children should be improved in Mozambique. Malnutrition, especially stunting, and developmental delay were highly prevalent. Further research focused on early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders and on the indications of antiretroviral treatment commencement based on chronic malnutrition is required.
authors.affiliation: Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedrini
authors.affiliation: Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain Clinical Department, Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique cinta.moraleda@cresib.cat.
authors.forename: Cinta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moraleda
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique National Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Eusebio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Macete
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department, Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Kizito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gondo
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, Merseyside Global Child Health Group, Academic Madical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bernard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Brabin
authors.affiliation: Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain Clinical Department, Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), Manhiça, Mozambique.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Menéndez
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D009073:Mozambique; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: Africa; HIV; developmental delay; malnutrition