ABSTRACT
A retrospective study was made on seventy-one infants and children born to HIV-1 infected mothers, who admitted and expired at Department of Pediatrics, Siriraj Hospital from September 1991 to August 1995. Sixty-three were diagnosed to be HIV infected and 8 were undetermined. In the group of undetermined HIV-infection, the causes of death included sepsis, prematurity, pneumonia and congenital heart disease. Among the 63 of HIV-infected group, 25 (40%) died before age 6 months, 36 (57%) and diarrhea 29 (46%). Other causes of death included gastrointestinal heamorrhage, congestive heart failure, candida esophagitis, wasting syndrome and liver failure. P.carinii was identified in 5 cases (12.2%) among the group of children who died with pneumonia. Of 36 children who died with sepsis, the etiologic agent were confirmed by blood culture 29 (80.5%). A single pathogen was isolated in 18 cases (62%) whereas multiple pathogens were isolated in 10 cases (38%) and only 1 yielded Candida albican. Gram-positive bacteria was identified in 11 cases (38%) which 8 cases (73%) of S.aureus were the most common isolated bacteria. Gram negative bacteria were confirmed in 22 cases (62%) of which 7 cases (32%) of salmonella species were the most frequent isolated bacteria. In the group of children who died of diarrhea, the causative agents wee identified in 12 cases (43%) by which 8 cases (66%) of cryptosporidium and 6 cases (50%) of salmonella species were the most common isolated pathogens. Among the 63 of HIV-infected children, 20 (32%) were the first admitted group and pneumonia 17 (85%) was found to be the most common cause of death.