Nutritional status of Helicobacter pylori-infected children in Guatemala as compared with uninfected peers.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the nutritional status of children in a developing country was studied using a cross-sectional design. Children attending an all-girl public school in inner Guatemala City, Guatemala were evaluated to acquire sociodemographic information and anthropometric nutritional parameters (weight-for-height [WFH] and height-for-age [HFA]), and detect H. pylori-specific serum IgG antibodies. Of 211 children 5-10 years of age, 107 (51%) were infected. The WFH values were not different between infected and uninfected subjects, and were not affected by the sociodemographic variables. The HFA values decreased significantly with age (P = 0.008), lower income (P = 0.04), and H. pylori infection (P = 0.05). When controlled for age and income level, the effect of infection on HFA became nonsignificant (P = 0.30). Helicobacter pylori appeared to have no effect on the nutritional status of the studied children; the differences detected were small and likely due to sociodemographic factors.

HIV seronegativity in an infant with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

We report the case of an infant with progressive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and persistent seronegativity. The child had Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia at 4 months of age and was documented to be HIV-infected by HIV-1 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot tests for HIV-1 and HIV-2 specific antibodies remained negative until the infant was 10 months old. This case should increase awareness about the possibility of seronegative HIV infection in infants and stress the fact that in questionable cases, even if the screening serology is negative, additional methods of diagnosis (ie, PCR, viral culture, and p24 antigen) should be considered.