Prevalence And Intensity of Helminth Infection in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infected Children in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Southeast, Nigeria

Infection by soil-transmitted helminth is not opportunistic infection, however, studies among HIV infected patients (adults and children) showed significantly higher prevalence rates of helminthic infection compared to controls. This study was done to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthic infection in HIV infected children in Abakaliki. It was a cross sectional study that involved consecutive recruitment of 84 confirmed HIV infected children and equal number of age and gender matched HIV negative children as controls. Stool analysis for both subjects and controls was done, using the Kato-Katz technique. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic information. The prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis in children infected with HIV in the two study centers was 28.6% as against 20.2% observed in controls (difference not significant). Mean parasite intensity of HIV infected subjects was found to be 276.35± 55.34, which was significantly higher than the mean parasite intensity observed in controls (162.35± 55.29), (p = 0.001). In conclusion, this study noted a higher mean parasite intensity of helminth infection in HIV infected children compared to normal population. Regular de-worming exercise for all children, and in particular HIV infected children, is recommended.