Cryptosporidiosis in Colombian children with HIV/AIDS infection

Abstract

Introduction: Enteric cryptosporidiosis in children with HIV/AIDS is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces, via the Ziehl Neelsen modified technique, among Colombian children with HIV/AIDS and to determine possible associations.

Methodology: Prevalence study in 131 children with HIV/AIDS at the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia. We evaluated clinical records, laboratory results, environmental factors, and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis included the estimation of prevalence of infection in children and the corresponding 95% confidence interval; estimation of other descriptive conditions of interest and the association analyses by multiple logistic regression.

Results: In this group of children with a mean age of 57 months, we found a prevalence of infection of 29%, more frequently among male children and among those with vertical HIV transmission. The infection was also associated with abdominal pain, having pets inside the house and C stage for HIV, with >100,000 copies/ml of viral load and CD4 percentage >25%. Association analysis showed a larger risk of Cryptosporidium infection with older age, and among patients not living in Cali, with more severe status of HIV disease, previous hospitalizations, and dried oral mucosa. Factors found finally associated were older age, chronic undernutrition, living in day-care institutions and having previous hospitalizations.

Conclusion: Almost a third of these children patients had Cryptosporidium infection, and it was found associated with age, previous hospitalizations, chronic undernutrition and living in day-care institutions.