Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics

Niger J Paed 2015; 42 (2): 103 -106
ORIGINALS Prevalence of anaemia in paediatric patients with HIV infection in Kano
Umar IU Hassan-Hanga F Ibrahim M DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njp.v42i2.6 Accepted: 19th January 2015 Umar IU Hassan-Hanga F, Ibrahim M Department of Paediatrics, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, Nigeria. Email: umarpaed@gmail.com	Abstract: Background: HIV infection affects virtually all systems of the body including the haematological system. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anaemia in HIV infected children and compare with apparently healthy HIV negative age-sex matched controls. Design: Case control hospitalbased study. Methods: A total of 60 confirmed HIV infected antiretroviral naïve children and 60 HIV negative children were enrolled in a case control study of baseline haematological indices. In all cases, haemoglobin, total white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet counts were determined using SYSMEX XT- 2000i Haematologic auto-analyser. Children with HIV/AIDS were classified according to clinical disease stages using the 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) staging criteria. Data was analysed using MINITAB 12.21 Atlanta USA statistical software. Result: Anaemia (?110 g/L) was present in 88.0% of the HIVinfected children, compared to 15.0% of controls (p = 0.001). Mild anaemia (70 - 109 g/L) was observed in 85.0% of HIVinfected children, compared to 15.0% of controls. Moderate anaemia (50 - 69 g/L) was present in 3.3% of HIV-infected children, but in none of the control. Leucopenia (?4 × 109/L) was seen in 11.6% of HIV-infected children and in 5.0% of controls. Neutropenia (?1.5 × 109/L) affected13% of infected children and 5% ofcontrols. Lymphocytopenia (?1.2 × 109/L) was observed in 3.3% of infected children but in none ofcontrols. Corresponding figures for thrombocytopenia (?100 × 109/L) were6.7% of HIV infected children and 1.7% of controls. Conclusion: All cells lines arereduced in HIV/AIDS and anaemia is the most frequent haematological manifestation seen in HIV/AIDS infection. Key words: Prevalence, Anaemia; HIV, Paediatrics, Patients