Late diagnosis and HIV infection in children attending a service of specialized care for pediatric AIDS in Brazil

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Carolina Frizzera Dias, Sandra Fagundes Moreira-Silva, Marcela Alice Reis, Luciana Ribeiro Patrício, Camila Fátima Biancardi Gavioli, Angélica Espinosa Miranda
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014
• Subjects: HIV; AIDS; Children; Late diagnosis; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-1737-2013; https://doaj.org/article/843485c98b4b4c46bbb800e5c7de596b

Introduction: This study describes the frequency of late diagnosis and HIV among children attending a pediatric AIDS clinic. Methods: Cross-sectional study in children exposed to HIV from 2005-2008. A questionnaire was given that included questions on demographics and clinical information. Results: Two-hundred twenty-one (97.8%) children were exposed to HIV during pregnancy/childbirth. A total of 193 (87.3%) children had late enrolment in the service and late access to HIV serology. The frequency of HIV was 21.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.9%-26.7%). Protective factors were earlier diagnosis [odds ratio (OR)=0.17 (0.08-0.37)] and receiving complete prophylaxis [OR=0.29 (0.09-0.97)]; being born by vaginal delivery was a risk factor [OR=4.45 (1.47-13.47)]. Conclusions: There was a high frequency of late diagnosis in this patient cohort. Earlier diagnosis is an important measure for controlling HIV among children.