Evolution of parasitic diseases in a collectivity of HIV positive children

Introduction: Intestinal parasitism represents an important problem of children health. Infestations with protozoa and helmints even have an increased incidence in children they weren’t observed because they were asymptomatic and atypical but with negative influence on their health regardless their immune status.

Objective: To evaluate parasitic infections in a collectivity of 38 children HIV+ from Cernavoda city (Hospis “St. Laurence”) over a period of 10 years (2002 - 2012).

Material and method: We performed two coproparasitologic examinations (in year 2002 - before antiretroviral treatment and in year 2012 - after 10 years of antiretroviral treatment) by concentration and staining methods and ELISA for Cryptosporidium parvum antigen.

Results: In our group of study the median age was 11.65 yrs. in 2002 and 20.6 yrs. in 2012. Sex ratio was M: F = 1:1.2. In year 2002 we found an incidence of parasitic disease of 94.9%, and in year 2012 we found an incidence of 26.31%. In year 2002 we found 6 cases of Giardia intestinalis, 5 cases of Blastocystis hominis, 15 cases of Chilomastix mesnili, 2 cases of Entamoeba coli, 1 case of Ascaris lumbricoides, 2 cases of Hymenolepis nana and 5 cases of poliparasitic disease. In year 2012 we found 4 cases of Giardia intestinalis, 2 cases of Entamoeba coli, 2 cases of Blastocystis hominis and one case of Isospora belli and another one case of Ascaris lumbricoides.

Conclusions: After ten years of HAART the incidence of parasitic diseases registered an important decrease from 94.9% to 26.31%.