ABSTRACT
Acute viral respiratory infections are common within the paediatric population.Nucleic Acid amplification tests can identify a wide range of respiratory viruses. Virally infected patients can now be diagnosed early and more accurately in the acute phase of illness.Objectives:The objective was to examine the association between HIV status and mortality in children with viral lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and to delineate the profile of viruses identified.Methods:A retrospective review of charts of children aged from birth to 10yrs of age admitted to PICU at IALCH with a viral lower respiratory tract infection from December 2010 to May 2015 was conducted. Only patients who had a positive respiratory viral multiplex test were eligible for entry into the study. Patients were divided into HIV positive; and negative; patients and mortality in the two groups was assessed.Results:Three hundred and thirty eight records were entered into the study. Sixty five patients tested HIV positive (19.23%) and 273 tested HIV negative (80.77%).There was a total of 55 deaths among the charts that were reviewed. Of these 55 deaths, 12 were amongst the 65 HIV positive patients (18.46%), and 43 amongst the 273 HIV negative patients (15.75%). The difference in mortality according to HIV status was not statistically different (p = 0.595).RSV was the most prevalent virus identified overall, with adenovirus being most prevalent in the HIV positive group.Conclusion:The results showed that patients with viral LRTI requiring respirato