Making a working clinical diagnosis of HIV infection in infants in Zimbabwe |
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Authors: | Peter Iliff Robert Ntozini Kusum Nathoo Ellen Piwoz Lawrence Moulton The ZVITAMBO Study Group Jean Humphrey |
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Affiliation: | 1. ZVITAMBO Project, Borrowdale, Harare, Zimbabwe;2. University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe;3. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA;4. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, USA;5. Members of the ZVITAMBO Study Group, in addition to named authors: Henry Chidawanyika, John Hargrove, Florence Majo, Edmore Marinda, Kuda Mutasa, Mary Ndhlovu, Phillipa Rambanepasi, Naume Tavengwa (ZVITAMBO);6. Agnes Mahomva (AIDS & TB Unit, MoHCW, Zimbabwe;7. Lucie Malaba (Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe), Michael Mbizvo, Partson Zvandasara and Lynn Zijenah (University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences);8. Clare Zunguza (Harare City Health Department);9. Lydia Propper and Andrea Ruff (The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health);10. Brian Ward (Research Institute of McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec).;11. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, MD, USA |
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Abstract: | Objectives Clinical algorithms can be helpful in decisions about treatment and feeding options in infancy, but have had limited exposure to real data. This analysis uses data from a large clinical trial to test such algorithms, and thereby develop a successor which performs usefully in poor countries with high HIV‐prevalence. Methods The ZVITAMBO trial followed 14 110 mother‐baby pairs through infancy. 32% of mothers were HIV‐positive. Infants were HIV tested regularly using DNA PCR. Clinical signs were evaluated in terms of identifying HIV‐infection at 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months, using Zimbabwean, South African, and WHO generic adaptations of the WHO integrated management of childhood illness HIV algorithm. A modification, in which HIV‐exposed infants are first divided into being at least or less than median weight‐for‐age, was derived and evaluated. Results At 6 weeks 65% of all infected babies are less than median weight‐for‐age. Adding at least two clinical signs reduces sensitivity to 20% but those identified are 1.5 (95% CI 1.1–2.1) times more likely to die by 6 months than other infected infants. At 6 months, 86% of uninfected babies of HIV‐infected mothers can be identified by selecting those whose weight is greater than median or, if less than median, who exhibit <2 clinical signs. Conclusions In poor settings a simple clinical algorithm can identify children with probable HIV infection, especially those at risk of early death, who can then be referred for further testing and care, including highly active antiretroviral therapy. Most infants who are HIV‐uninfected can be identified at 6 months and provided with support to maintain infection‐free survival, including focussed infant‐feeding counselling. |
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Keywords: | human immunodeficiency virus infant diagnosis integrated management of childhood illness VIH mortalité infantile diagnostic PCIME VIH niñ o diagnó stico IMCI |
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