HIV infection among paediatric in-patients in Blantyre, Malawi

Abstract

To investigate the impact of HIV infection on hospital admission and death we studied children admitted to paediatric medical and surgical wards in Blantyre, Malawi, in March 2000. Unselected children whose parents or guardians consented to HIV testing of the child were recruited and HIV infection was determined by serology, with confirmation in children aged 15 months or less by PCR. We assessed the prevalence of HIV infection by age, clinical diagnosis and outcome of admission. Of 1064 admissions, 991 were tested for HIV infection, and 187 (18.9%) were infected. HIV was most common in children aged less than six months, 53 of 166 (32%). Parents of HIV-infected children were better educated..