Cryptococcus neoformans septicemia in an immunocompetent neonate: first case report in Thailand.

Neonatal infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans is extremely rare. We report a case of a 21-day-old neonate diagnosed with cryptococcal septicemia who was successfully treated with amphotericin B. He was born to a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seronegative mother. This report alerts general pediatricians and neonatologists to consider Cryptococcus neoformans infection as a possible cause of sepsis in newborn infants.

Evaluation of a practical method to assess antiretroviral adherence in HIV-infected Thai children.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a practical method to assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy by observing virological and immunological responses. We conducted a 12-month longitudinal cohort study of 162 HIV-infected Thai children. Adherence was assessed using 5 methods (self reporting calendar, records of missed doses, pill counts, physician assessment, and an interview questionnaire). CD4 count, percentage and viral load were performed at baseline and at 12 months. Mean adherence rates at 2, 6, and 12 months were 98, 100, and 99% by the calendar method; 98, 100, and 100% by recording missed doses; 96, 96, and 92% by pill count; and 90, 94, and 97% by physician assessment. Poor agreement (kappa < or = 0.1) was found among the methods. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.05) in virological response between participants with > or = 95% adherence (0.8 log10) and those with < 95% adherence (0.2 log10) when pill counts were used to assess adherence. In conclusion, despite poor agreement among these tools, a pill count appeared to be the only practical, validated method to differentiate the virological outcome between those who were fully and partially adhere to the treatment regimen.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children.

BACKGROUND: The appropriate timing of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy initiation in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been uncertain. There was evidence of poorer outcome in adults who initiated treatment at lower baseline CD4 cell count. However, early initiation may not be possible in resource-limited setting and would increased risk of long term side effects and non-adherence. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the outcome of HIV-infected children who ARV treatment was initiated at different disease stages. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Data from medical records of HIV-infected children who had been followed at Infectious Disease Division, Department of Pediatric Siriraj Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical response and outcome data were analyzed. RESULTS: From September 1996 to March 2004, there were 200 patients with a median age at treatment initiation of 38 (2-175) months. The median duration of follow up period was 26 (1-91) months. The median baseline CD4 cell count was 545 (2-5016) cells/mm3. The median baseline CD4 percentage was 14.25 (0.11-60). Monotherapy or dual nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimens were initiated in 134 (67%), and HAARTwas initiated in 66 (33%) patients. The survival rate in patients who initiated with HAART tended to be better than those initiated with dual NRTI regimens but salvaged appropriately (p=0.2377). The survival rate in those initiated treatment at baseline CD4 > or = 15% was better than those initiated at baseline CD4 < 15% (p=0.0471). CONCLUSION: Initiation of ARV treatment at CD4 more than 15% resulted in a better survival rate than at CD4 below 15%. Initiation with HAART regimen tended to improve survival and resulted in higher CD4 gain especially in cases with baseline CD4< 15%.

Dyslipidemia and lipodystrophy in HIV-infected Thai children on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

BACKGROUND: Previous cross sectional studies revealed that dyslipidemia occurs in 50-70% of children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, there is no information in children in developing countries where children may have a different nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and associated risk factors of dyslipidemia following HAART in HIV-infected Thai children. The occurrence of clinical lipodystrophy among these children was also evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty-three HIV-infected children who initiated HAART from "Access to Care Program" sponsored by MOPH around October 2001. Non-fasting blood tests for lipid profile were performed at enrollment and every 6 months. Triglyceride level was not analysed due to a non-fasting condition. The assessment of clinical lipodystrophy was done every 1-2 months. RESULTS. As of October 2003, 19 (83%) children experienced dyslipidemia. There were 10, 13, 5, and 8 children who had dyslipidemia at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of HAART The mean total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) tended to increase over time while the children were on HAART: There was a correlation of elevated total cholesterol and CD4 percentage gain particularly at 18-24 months of treatment (r = 0.596, p = 0.007). Two children developed peripheral lipoatrophy. There were no dyslipidemia-associated risk factors identified. Most of the children had transient abnormal lipid profile. There were only 3 children that had persistent abnormality throughout the 24 months of HAART CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia was found from 6-12 months of HAART and were mostly transient over time. Peripheral lipoatrophy were found in 2 children. Further follow-up will elucidate the long-term incidence, the association factors, and clinical consequences.

Single-dose therapy for giardiasis in school-age children.

A randomized controlled trial was carried out to study the efficacy of combined albendazole and praziquantel in the treatment of giardiasis in school-age children. Eighty-four children were randomly allocated to 3 groups: group 1 (n = 31) albendazole 400 mg combined with praziquantel 20 mg/kg; group 2 (n = 26) albendazole 800 mg as a single dose; group 3 (n = 27) tinidazole 50 mg/kg as a single dose. The treatment was considered curative when Giardia was not found in two consecutive stool samples. The parasitological cure rate was 74.2% for combined single-dose albendazole-praziquantel, 50% and 92.6% in the albendazole and tinidazole groups respectively (p = 0.0023). There was no statistically significant difference between the cure rates of the combined regimen and tinidazole (p > 0.05). This combined regimen was considered safe, with only minor side-effects being observed. Of the single-dose regimens, tinidazole still achieves the highest parasitological cure rate for giardiasis. The albendazole-praziquantel combined regimen may be an alternative single-dose therapy for giardiasis in children, especially as this combination will eradicate common intestinal protozoa and co-existing helminths. Whether the dosage of this combination treatment should be adjusted for G. intestinalis remains to be established by further study.