Vol. 3, Issue 9, Part F (2017)

Abstract
Diarrhoea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants and children worldwide. Diarrhoeal disease occurs more commonly in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected than in uninfected children and their outcomes are worse. Case management of HIV-infected infants and children is complicated by immunodeficiency, malnutrition and other opportunistic infections. Present hospital based prospective study was undertaken to determine HIV sero-positivity in children with chronic diarrhea. The subjects in the present study were of age group of more than one month up to 12 years old. The detailed clinical and personal history of the subject was recorded, which included demographic data, socio-economical conditions and HIV status. Random collection of stool sample was done and was subjected for macroscopic and microscopic examination along with saline and iodine wet mount. Total 21% HIV positive children were detected in the study group, while in control group none of the children showed HIV positivity. Out of 94 bacterial isolates obtained from study group, Escherichia coli (E. coli) were the predominant isolate. Out of 44 E. coli isolates from HIV negative cases, 7 were typed as Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) by specific antisera. Mixed infections were observed in all HIV positive patients. Common isolate was E. coli, which was associated with Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Candida albicans, Rota virus and Isospora belli. None of the E. coli was serotyped as Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC ) and EPEC from this group. All HIV sero-positive cases, with less than 1 year of age, from study group were found to be associated with Grade III malnutrition. Such malnutrition conditions were most commonly observed in early age of life and maximum association of these conditions were seen with AIDS or HIV positive conditions. Keeping in view, the small subgroup, there is need for further studies with larger sample size to establish the above correlation.