Follow-up of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in a rural area of Togo

To evaluate the monitoring of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in rural areas of Togo and the effectiveness of the treatment. This retrospective descriptive study, conducted at the Luis Scrosospi Center in Kouvé from 15 November, 2008, through 14 November, 2009, examined the re...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Médecine et santé tropicales (Montrouge, France) Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 283
Main Authors:	Djadou, K E, Azoumah, D R, Saka, B, Douti, K, Koudaya, K, Tatagan-Agbi, K, Agbèrè, A D
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	French
Published:	France 01-07-2012
Subjects:	Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use Child Drug Therapy, Combination Female Follow-Up Studies HIV Infections - drug therapy Humans Lamivudine - therapeutic use Male Nevirapine - therapeutic use Retrospective Studies Rural Health Stavudine - therapeutic use Togo Togo
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	To evaluate the monitoring of HIV-infected children receiving antiretroviral therapy in rural areas of Togo and the effectiveness of the treatment. This retrospective descriptive study, conducted at the Luis Scrosospi Center in Kouvé from 15 November, 2008, through 14 November, 2009, examined the records of children who had been receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months. We studied the records of 55 children. The sex ratio was 0.9, and the primary opportunistic infections were respiratory infections and malaria. At treatment initiation, their average age was 6 years and 3 months, the average CD4 T cell count 358/mm(3), and the mean weight 12.9 kg. The hemoglobin level was less than 8 g/dL in 31%. All children received a nutritional kit monthly. The antiretroviral therapy for 52 children was a combination of stavudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine. The adherence rate during the first 12 months was 80% (44/55 children). The mean weight gain was 860 g (below -3SD) at 3 months, 1,550 g (between -3SD and -2SD) at 6 months, and 1 270 g (between -2SD and -1SD) at 12 months of treatment. The severe acute malnutrition rate fell from 60% at treatment initiation to 56% at 3 months, 47% at 6 months, and 25% at 12 months. Also after 12 months, the CD4 T cell count had risen in 60% of the children. The main side effects were peripheral neuropathy (29%) and headaches (18%). Eight children died (14%) during the follow-up. Monitoring of HIV-infected children on antiretroviral therapy is possible in Togo's rural areas and should be encouraged for it will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
ISSN:	2261-2211
DOI:	10.1684/mst.2012.0070