CLINICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HIV-INFECTED RAPID PROGRESSOR INFANTS IN YAOUNDE - CAMEROON

Introduction: HIV infection in some infants is marked by a rapidly progressive form which is associated with a poor prognosis due to severe clinical and biological manifestations in the first year of life. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and biological pattern of the rapid progressors infants in a cohort of HIV infected children in a pediatric center at Yaounde. Methodology. We carried out a retrospective study using medical files of patients aged less than 12 months, at clinical stage 4, or those with CD4 count < 25%, whatever their clinical stage. Results. We recruited 150 rapid progressors. Their PCR tests were performed mostly after 3 months of age, with a median age of 6 months at the first test. HIV-related recurrent and chronic signs and symptoms were found in 83.3% of patients. Co-morbidities were predominantly malnutrition (74.6%), acute gastroenteritis (61.3%), oral thrush (60.0%), pulmonary (43.3%) and skin infections (29.3%). Stunting, underweight and wasting were present in 42.6%, 74.6% and 58.6% of infants respectively. The mean viral load was 14 609 492 copies/ml. Anemia was present in 99.1% of the subjects. Conclusion. Most of the clinical signs found in the rapid progressors infants were those current during childhood illnesses. Meanwhile, their recurrence and chronicity were unusual and could orientate towards early diagnosis of HIV when the child status is unknown.