Epidemiology and Outcome of Children Living with HIV in a Tertiary Hospital: A 6-Year Retrospective Study

ntroduction: Infection with HIV is multi-faceted and involves the interplay of medical, social, and economic factors thus, management of the disease continues to be a challenge to most physicians. The Philippines is experiencing a surge in cases since 2013. Understanding the local epidemiology of pediatric HIV may reveal opportunities to reduce or eliminate transmission through timely diagnosis. Objective: This study was conducted to identify the features and outcome of children living with HIV in a hospital where a program for HIV treatment and monitoring was implemented. Methodology: Medical records of all children Guidance Intervention Prevention (SAGIP) Unit were reviewed. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Thirty pediatric HIV patients were included in the study. The most common mode of acquisition is by sexual transmission (57%) and most patients were male (76%),bisexual (47%), and heterosexual (47%). Weight loss (50%),rash (50%), fever (37%) and cough (37%) were the most common clinical findings. The most common opportunistic infections were tuberculosis (47%) and oral candidiasis (34%). Only 27 of 30 patients were started on antiretroviral therapy within 6 months from diagnosis. One patient showed resistance to a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). There were 11 children who died of various opportunistic infections and its complications, while 2 were transferred to a different treatment hub after 6 months, and 1 lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Sexual means of HIV transmission among adolescents is evident in this study. Weight loss, cough, rash, fever, and lymphadenopathy are common presenting features. Tuberculosis and oral candidiasis are the most common opportunistic infections and should alert physicians on possible HIV infection. A mortality rate of 37% was noted mostly in the first 6 months of initiating ART treatment.