Urinary findings in HIV positive children by dipstick screening test in Enugu

Abstract

AJOL Abstract: Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the kidney. Urine screening for abnormalities can detect early renal parenchymal diseases.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of abnormal urinary findingsin HIV positive children in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,(UNTH), Enugu.Method: Urinary screening was carried out in 159 HIV positive childrenin UNTH over a period of 4-months, to detect presence of abnormalitiessuch as glycosuria, proteinuria, haematuria, as well as the presenceof nitrite and leucocyte esterase, abnormal urine pH and specificgravity (SG).Results: Eighty males and 79 females were screened. Five (5), 4, and a child had proteinuria, SG of > 1.015 and alkaline urine, giving aprevalence rate of 3.1%, 2.5% and 0.6% respectively. Neither of thesubjects had glycosuria, haematuria nor tested positive to nitrite andleucocyte esterase. Subjects with proteinuria were older (5-14 years),had longer duration of HIV diagnosis, longer duration of treatmentwith HAART, and a lower CD4 cell count (p=0.01). Sixty percent ofthose with proteinuria had severe immunosuppression, with 4 out ofthe 5 of them with urine SG more than 1.015. The children with urineSG more than 1.015 were among the older age group (5-14 years), onHAART, had non-advanced HIV disease as well as low CD4 cell count (p= <0.0001).Conclusion: Urinary abnormalities occur among HIV infected children.Longer duration of HIV diagnosis, older age and low CD4 cell count,are probable factors associated with proteinuria.We recommend routineurinary examination for HIV positive children