Nutrition Assessment in Pediatric Patients Infected With the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in children is characterized by failure to thrive and usually is associated with protein–energy malnutrition. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often leads to fever, additional infections, diarrhea, and malabsorption syndrome. The aim of this study was to compare nutritional status of Mexican children with HIV/AIDS to healthy Mexican children.

Thirty-four patients between 1 month and 15 years of age and infected with HIV/AIDS were subjects of the study. The healthy children used as controls had the same demographics as the experimental group, but without HIV infection or any other chronic or acute illness. All subjects were evaluated to determine nutritional status by using anthropometric, biochemical, and immunologic measurements.

The results showed statistically significant differences in the following parameters: height (p < .05), arm circumference and arm muscle circumference (p < .01), triceps skinfold thickness (p < .01), serum albumin (p < .01), serum transferrin (p < .01), iron-binding capacity (p < .01), hemoglobin (p < .01), globulin (p < .01), nitrogen balance (p < .01), CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, and CD4-CD8 ratio (p < .01).

Nutritional status in children is strongly influenced by HIV/AIDS, and thus it is important to monitor their nutritional status continuously. Nutrition education as well as nutritional supplementation is essential to reduce the risk of malnutrition, which decreases quality of life and increases the risk of further opportunistic illnesses.

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