NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF HIV POSITIVE PATIENTS PEDIATRIC AGE GROUP - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM CENTRAL INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is a disease of the twenty-first century, one of the most recent and well-studied diseases in history. In youngsters, the scope of the problem is constantly expanding. Although the true frequency of CNS involvement is unknown, it is assumed to occur in the majority of HIV-positive children and is at least three times higher than in adults. At least 40% of infants with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome will have or present with at least one neurological impairment, according to estimates.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of neurological manifestations in HIV-positive paediatric patients and to investigate neurological manifestations.
Study design: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted. The duration of the programme is three years. Medical College in Central India, where the research was conducted. Data was gathered from paediatric ward case documents kept indoors. Data entry was carried out using the Microsoft Office-Microsoft Excel suite. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of statistical measures such as percentages and proportions, as well as SPSS software.
Results: During the study period, 400 HIV + paediatric patients were brought to wards, with 96 (24%) of them having neurological involvement. Once the Central Nervous System (CNS) is involved, the prognosis is poor. When compared to non-CNS involvement, mortality is three times higher. Convulsions (46%) and altered Sensorium (22%) were the most common symptoms (23 percent ). On neuroimaging, the most prevalent finding was generalised cerebral atrophy.
Conclusions: Neurological involvement is found in 24 percent of HIV-positive paediatric patients. Once the CNS is involved, the prognosis is poor.
Keywords: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, HIV, Neurological Manifestations, Pediatric HIV.