SEVERE MALNUTRITION AND HIV-INFECTION IN BURKINA-FASO

A prospective study in 428 patients aged 4 to 48 months admitted to a pediatric ward in Bobodioulaso (Burkina Faso) for marasmus or kwashior kor found that 60 subjects had a positive serological test (Western Bl ot) for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Among the 349 subjects older than 12 months, 13.8% were seropositive for the HIV-1 or the HI V-2; in this group, 95.8% of seropositive individuals were infected wi th the HIV-1. During the same period, none of 135 malnutrition free co ntrols aged 12 to 48 months had positive serological tests for the HIV Transmission of the HIV was vertical (mother-to-child) in 77.1 % of c ases and horizontal in 22.9 % of cases (transfusion: 12.5 %; multiple parenteral injections: 10.4%). The likelihood of HIV infection was ver y high among subjects with marasmus, lymphadenopathy and oral candidia sis.