Comorbidities in Children Born Hiv-Positive Followed at the Approved Treatment Center of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital

<i>Introduction:</i><i> </i>The management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is now that of a chronic disease. Although patients carrying the HIV virus live longer, they more frequently, and often earlier, develop comorbidities called non- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-defining events compared to the general population. Despite the high prevalence of these comorbidities and overexposure to numerous risk factors, little data is available on comorbidity screening in PLHIV (People Living with HIV). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of comorbidities in children born HIV-positive to HIV-seropositive mothers with an undetectable viral load on antiretroviral therapy at the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (YUTH). <i>Methods:</i><i> </i>Participants included in this study came for consultation at the Authorized Treatment Center of the YUTH and were selected based on their risk of developing a comorbidity (CD4:CD8 T-lymphocyte ratio < 1). The study was cross-sectional and lasted 1 year. After administering a questionnaire, a blood sample was obtained from each participant, then analyzed for immunophenotyping using Becton Dickinson equipment. After centrifugation, the extracted plasma was used with the Toxoplasma, Rubeola virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Virus (TORCH) Kit, Epstein Barr-Virus (EBV) Kit, HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) kit, HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) kit to search for specific IgG antibodies or antigens. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2019 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. A p-value <0.05 was statistically significant at a 95% CI. <i>Results:</i><i> </i>Of the 74 participants, 69% were girls versus 31% boys. The co-infection that most affected study participants was related to EBV at 22.97% (n=17), followed by CMV at 12.2% (n=9). The lowest positivity rate was found associated with the rubella virus (RV) at 5.41% (n=4). According to these results, only co-infections associated with HBV, HCV, RV, and Toxoplasma were found to be significant. The most frequently observed comorbidities were type I diabetes (4.05%), prostatitis (1.35%), and renal insufficiency (1.35%). A low CD4:CD8 ratio < 1 was significantly correlated with the number of comorbidities. <i>Conclusion:</i><i> </i>It follows that people living with HIV presenting a low lymphocyte ratio are at risk of developing a comorbidity.