Table 1.
Characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children with and without diarrhea
| With diarrhea (N = 70) | Without diarrhea (N = 70) | |
|---|---|---|
| Viral load (VL) RNA copy (log10)/mL | ||
| VL by age, mean ± SD | ||
| < 12 months | 5.6 ± 0.9 | 4.9 ± 1.3 |
| 1–5 years | 4.8 ± 1.1 | 4.4 ± 1.3 |
| 6–18 years | 4.2 ± 1.3 | 3.4 ± 1.1* |
| All age groups | 4.7 ± 1.2 | 3.8 ± 1.3** |
| VL, median (range) | 5.3 (1.6–6.8) | 3.2 (2.6–6.0) |
| VL > 400 RNA copies/mL, n/N (%) | 61/69 (88) | 39/70 (56) |
| CD4, cells/mm3 | ||
| CD4, mean ± SD | 506 ± 440 | 710 ± 434* |
| CD4, median (range) | 431 (37–1,854) | 656 (37–2,489) |
| Severe immunosuppression,† n/N (%) | ||
| < 12 months | 9/10 (90) | 4/6 (67) |
| 1–5 years | 21/40 (53) | 7/21 (33) |
| 6–18 years | 7/20 (35) | 3/43 (7)* |
| All age groups | 37/70 (53) | 14/70 (20)** |
| HAART, n/N (%) | 50/70 (71) | 69/70 (99)** |
*
P < 0.01 and
**
P < 0.001 for the comparison between children with and without diarrhea.
†
Based on CD4 cells by age (CDC, 1994).24