Aetiology and management of malnutrition in HIV-positive children.

Abstract

Worldwide, more than 3 million children are infected with HIV and, without treatment, mortality among these children is extremely high. Both acute and chronic malnutrition are major problems for HIV-positive children living in resource-limited settings. Malnutrition on a background of HIV represents a separate clinical entity, with unique medical and social aetiological factors. Children with HIV have a higher daily calorie requirement than HIV-negative peers and also a higher requirement for micronutrients; furthermore, coinfection and chronic diarrhoea due to HIV enteropathy play a major role in HIV-associated malnutrition. Contributory factors include late presentation to medical services, unavailability of antiretroviral therapy, other issues surrounding healthcare provision and food insecurity in HIV-positive households. Treatment protocols for malnutrition have been greatly improved, yet there remains a discrepancy in mortality between HIV-positive and HIV-negative children. In this review, the aetiology, prevention and treatment of malnutrition in HIV-positive children are examined, with particular focus on resource-limited settings where this problem is most prevalent.

• Authors: Anna M Rose, Charles S Hall, Nuria Martinez-Alier
• Journal: Archives of disease in childhood (Arch Dis Child) Vol. 99 Issue 6 Pg. 546-51 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1468-2044 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24406803 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Topics

• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Disease Management
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Humans
• Malnutrition (etiology, prevention & control, therapy)
• Nutritional Status
• Risk Factors