Stunting and weight-loss are common complications of HIV infection in children. The aim of this study was to assess whether stunting, assessed using a height-for-age index, is a discriminating factor for HIV in malnourished children. This is a retrospective study of 66 children, all older than 15 months, with marasmus-type malnutrition. They were studied at a nursery in the Côte d'Ivoire from 1994 to 1995. Forty-five percent of the children were HIV-positive. The anthropometric indices (weight-for-age, weight-for-height, height-for-age and body mass index) were lower in seropositive than in seronegative children, but the difference was not significant. The rate of stunting was similar in the two groups, with 66% of seropositive and 58% of seronegative children stunted. Thus, stunting was not a discriminating factor for HIV infection. Studies aimed at increasing our understanding of nutritional disorders associated with HIV are necessary to improve the nutritional management of these children, especially in Africa where malnutrition is endemic.