Long-term follow-up outcomes of perinatally HIV-infected adolescents: infection control but school failure

J Trop Pediatr. 2010 Dec;56(6):421-6. doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmq008. Epub 2010 Feb 18.

Abstract

Perinatally human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children are fighting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and becoming adolescents. The objective of this study was to examine long-term outcomes among perinatally HIV-1-infected adolescents. Cross-sectional clinical and laboratory data were collected for 49 perinatally HIV-infected adolescents followed at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP's) Hospital from 1987 to 2007. The mean age of these adolescents was 12.5 years, the majority were female (73.5%) with a mean follow-up duration of 9.0 years, 71.4% of adolescents had no signs of HIV infection, 81.6% had normal CD4(+) lymphocyte count, and 53.1% had undetectable HIV viral load. HIV disclosure to the adolescent was reported in 31 (63.3%) participants. The majority were in school (89.8%) but failure and drop-out were reported by 51% and 28.6% of the subjects, respectively. All five domains of quality of life (QOL) measured revealed high scores. The majority of long-term adolescent survivors showed HIV-infection control and high scores of QOL, but with problems in schooling functioning that need early detection and intervention.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age of Onset
  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / psychology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Long-Term Survivors / psychology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Male
  • Quality of Life
  • Student Dropouts / psychology*
  • Student Dropouts / statistics & numerical data
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents