A Comparative Study of Mucocutaneous Disorders among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infected Children and Non-HIV Infected Children in a Teaching Hospital in Kano, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Mucocutaneous disorders are common among children, most especially infections and infestation as immunity is not fully developed during childhood. They are especially important in HIV-infected children and contribute to the risk of other life-threatening illnesses.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV-infected children and that among non- HIV-infected children. To compare the pattern of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV-infected children and non- HIV-infected children. This study is expedient because comparative data on the prevalence and pattern of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected children in this environment are few.

Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 223 HIV-infected children aged 6 weeks to 14 years and an equal number of non- HIV-infected children from the study area. The chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used where necessary to determine the difference between the proportions of categorical variables and the level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV-infected children was 78.0% compared to 24.7% among non-HIV-infected children (p <0.001). The leading categories were infections and infestations accounted for 55.1% among HIV-infected subjects and 18.3% among non-HIV-infected children (p < 0.001), then inflammatory skin disorders (20.6% among cases and 5.8% controls).

Conclusion: This study found that the prevalence of mucocutaneous disorders among HIV-infected children is higher (78.0 %) compared to that in non-HIV-infected children (24.7%).