Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects of Children Living with HIV/AIDS at Maroua Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Introduction: Paediatric HIV infection is a health problem in Cameroon, prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTC) strategies have revolutionized the prognosis of exposed children. However, thousands of Cameroonian children are still living with HIV. We conducted a study to describe the diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of HIV-infected children followed at the Maroua Regional Hospital’s accredited treatment center (ATC). Methodology: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study of HIV-infected children aged 0 to 19 years followed up from 2008 to 2023 at the MRH-accredited treatment center (ATC). The study period was from January 1 to June 31, 2024. The variables studied were socio-demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary characteristics. Data analysis was performed using CSPro version 8.01 and SPSS version 22 software. Results: We collected 235 pediatric files meeting our inclusion criteria out of 4500 patients followed up at the ATC, representing 5.22% of HIV-infected patients at the ACT of MRH. The sex-ratio M/F was 0.8. The mean age was 11.5 ± 3.5 years (Min.: 1 month; Max.: 19 years). Adolescents accounted for 63.40% and the mode of transmission was vertical in 95.31% of cases. Children aged 2 - 5 years were diagnosed in 45.96% of cases. At the time of diagnosis, 32.8% were in WHO clinical stage 3 and 31.06% in stage 4. According to the antiretroviral treatment protocol (ART), 49. 36% were on triple therapy combining Abacavir, Lamivudine, and Dolutégravir (ABC + 3TC + DTG), and 37.02% were on the protocol combining Tenofovir, Lamivudine, and Dolutégravir (TLD). Chemoprophylaxis with Isoniazid and Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Cotrimoxazole) was initiated in 51.48% and 70.21% of patients, respectively. During follow-up, 73.2% had suppressed viral load. The mortality rate was 4.7%, and the lost to follow-up rate was 2.9%. Conclusion: HIV screening and diagnosis in children are still delayed. Systematic search for exposed children and early detection would improve optimal management of paediatric cases in the Far North region.