ABSTRACT
The physiopathology of malnutrition among AIDS, ARC and HIV infected children was reviewed. One-hundred eight-three newborns were studied, 152 of which were born at "La Fe" Maternity Hospital. Of these patients, 29% were LBW and 28% preterm. Transfused and hemophiliac patients were excluded from the study. Anorexia, vomiting, fever, infections of the respiratory and GI tracts and drug therapy were the most frequent factors affecting the nutritional status. Fifty-three newborns were infected with the HIV (29%). The children were classified into three groups (G). Group-I was formed by HIV+children > 18 months of age, G-II, P-2 class by children < 18 months of age and G-III was formed by those children that died of AIDS. The most common symptoms were chronic diarrhea and infections of the respiratory tract. Of the HIV+children > 18 months of age, 65% had a weight < the 10th percentile and 61% were < the 10th percentile for height. Of the children that died of AIDS, 80% were in the lower 10th percentile for both weight and height. Hemoglobin, T4/T8, total proteins, seroalbumin and calcium were also negatively affected. Those most severely affected were the dead patients, followed by P-2 < 18 months and finally the HIV+ > 18 months of age. The differences between G-I and G-II-G-III were statistically significant, p < 0.01. The biochemical quantification of the nutritional status was difficult due to the limited amount of blood available. HIV infected children require nutrition supplementation to maintain an adequate nutritional status. Among these patients, malnutrition is a multifactorial phenomenon.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
