HIV SEROPOSITIVITY IN CHILDREN ADMITTED WITH DIARRHEA AT ELDORET-DISTRICT-HOSPITAL, KENYA

Fifty seven children aged 2 years and below admitted to Paediatric war d of Eldoret District Hospital with a diagnosis of diarrhoea were stud ied for HIV infection. A total of 29(50.9%) cases were found to be pos itive with no gender difference. 17(70.8%) of 24 cases with diarrhoea of over 14 days duration were positive for HIV compared to 12(36.7%) c ases out of 33 cases with diarrhoea of less than 14 days' duration. Th ere was a high (80%) prevalence of HIV positivity rate in patients who presented with pneumonia and malnutrition in addition to diarrhoea wh en compared to children who presented with diarrhoea and vomiting alon e (44.1%).