International Journal of Recent Trends in Science And Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN 2249-8109, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2014 pp 58-62 International Journal of Recent Trends in Science And Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN 2249-8109, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2014 Page 58 A Study of Prevalence of HIV Infection in Children Attending Pediatric Department Vikas N. Solunke 1* , Milind B. Kamble 2 , Amol R. Suryawanshi 3 , Pallavi Saple 4 , Manish M. Tiwari 5 , Bhete S. B. 6 , Garad S. B. 7 { 1,3,5 Assistant Professor, 4 Professor and HOD, Department of Pediatrics} Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Government Medical College and Hospital, Ambajogai, Maharashtra, INDIA. 2 Professor and HOD, Department of Pediatrics, Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Nanded, Maharashtra, INDIA. 6 Department of Pharmacology, Topiwala National Medical College and Nayar Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA. 7 Medical Officer, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra, INDIA. * Corresponding Address: drvikassolunke@gmail.com Research Article Abstract: Introduction: The increase in pediatric HIV infection has had a substantial impact on childhood mortality both in industrialized countries and developing countries. Pediatric HIV is a major world health problem which is progressing at an alarming rate. Aims and objectives: a) To study the prevalence of HIV infection in children. b) To study various presenting signs and symptoms in pediatric HIV patients. Methodology: The present study was carried out in the department of pediatrics from January 2008 to June 2009. All the patients attending the pediatric department i.e. OPD and IPD were enrolled in the study. Out of these patients suffering from HIV were diagnosed. The study population included was patients who were already HIV positive or diagnosed later on investigation on suspicion of the clinical features. Results: A sum of 24828 children attended pediatric department during study period. Amongst those 144 were found to be HIV reactive. Hence the prevalence of HIV infection during the study period was 0.58%. Vertical transmission was seen in 98.62% and infection via blood transfusion in 1.38%. Male to female ratio was 1.93:1. On first presentation fever was the most common symptom. On examination severe malnutrition (PEM Gr III and IV) was the most common finding (59.02%) followed by pallor (51.38%), respiratory signs (47.22%). Conclusion: prevalence of HIV in children attending pediatric department was 0.58%. Fever was the most common complaint reported by the study population and malnutrition was also most commonly associated finding in pediatric HIV patients. Keywords: HIV Infection, pediatric. Introduction HIV means Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS was first recognized and described as a clinical entity in mid 1981 when Gottlieb in Los Angeles described a cohort of gay men with Pneumocystis carrini which was rare previously and Friedman-Kien in NewYork described a cohort of gay men with previously rare Kaposi’s sarcoma 1 . According to Merchant R et al 2 , as the world enters the third decade of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic, the evidence of its impact is undeniable. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus – the causative agent, is now a major public health problem for both developing and developed countries as it has dramatically increased the global burden of disease. The global impact of HIV epidemic has been so dramatic and devastating that it has been described as the “epidemic of current century”. The increase in pediatric HIV infection has had a substantial impact on childhood mortality both in industrialized countries and developing countries 3,4 . Pediatric HIV is a major world health problem which is progressing at an alarming rate 5 . It has now become a pandemic 6 . The number of children infected with HIV is increasing rapidly in countries where HIV has spread widely in adults, as most women who become infected are in reproductive age group and the major sources of infection to children is through mother to child transmission 7 . The increasing number of opportunistic infections is leading to rise in the morbidity and mortality in Pediatric HIV. Thus the present study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of HIV in pediatric patients attending the department (OPD and IPD). Aims and objectives • To study the prevalence of HIV infection in children. • To study various presenting signs and symptoms in pediatric HIV patients. Material and method Study design: The present study was carried out in the department of pediatrics from January 2008 to June 2009. All the patients attending the pediatric department i.e. OPD and IPD were enrolled in the study. Out of these