[Clinical manifestations of AIDS in children in Kinshasa]

Abstract

Clinical features observed in 60 cases of childhood HIV infection at the Cliniques Universitaires of Kinshasa is reported. Exposure mode, demonstrated in 92% of cases, was essentially maternofetal (65%) and related to blood transfusion (27%). The clinical signs appeared the first year of life in children born to seropositive mothers (82%). The main clinical features were: failure to thrive, high recurrent fever, persistent cough, chronic diarrhea, recurrent respiratory infections, hepatosplenomegaly, generalized lymphoadenopathy and oral candidiasis. Pulmonary lesions were very common (90%). These lesions were related to bacteria in 20 cases, to tuberculosis in 17 cases and to interstitial pneumonitis in 20 cases.