Peculiarities of acute rotavirus infection in infants with perinatal exposure to human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Background: The number of children with perinatal exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Ukraine is increasing, and the problems of nursing and treatment of those children are important. Rotavirus intestinal infections are common among young children and also children with perinatal exposure to HIV (PEH), and may have a hard course and negative influence on child’s development. Material and methods: We examined 40 children with PEH and 20 children without HIV and the features of their physical, psychomotor development аnd the course of acute intestinal infections in those groups. Results: There was found that intestinal rotavirus infection had heavier and longer course for children with PEH, and it aggravated the underlying disease. We tested changes in medical diagnostic algorithm, including the determination of procalcytoninum, the use of lactose mixtures and antibiotics. There was found significantly positive impact on the course of intestinal infection and recovering process. Conclusions: Feeding with high adapted mixture the children with PEH reduced the risk of acute intestinal infections (AII). Using of antibiotics on the basis of determining the level of procalcytoninum for treatment of AII in children with PEH may improve the course of AII and accelerate their recovery.