Nutritional, clinical and immunological status of children at HIV diagnosis in the continental region of Equatorial Guinea

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional, clinical and immunological status of children at HIV diagnosis in the continental region of Equatorial Guinea. METHODS: Children 5 years (36.4% vs. 19.1%, P = 0.026). In the second period, the prevalence of moderate-severe immunodeficiency decreased (87.2% to 67.0%, P = 0.018), without significant differences in the other nutritional or clinical data. Severe underweight was a risk factor for moderate-severe immunodeficiency (aOR: 4 [95% CI: 1.4-11.4], P = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: We highlight a high proportion of malnutrition at the time of HIV diagnosis in Guinea s paediatric population. Early diagnosis of HIV infection is a priority, achievable by training Guinea s physicians to suspect HIV early, introducing HIV molecular diagnostic techniques and ensuring intensive nutritional treatment.