Adherence, safety and efficacy of antiretroviral therapy among children at a tertiary hospital in India

Abstract

Successful response to treatment of HIV infection is largely determined by adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and manifests as an improvement in CD4 counts. Certain challenges to attaining high rates of adherence are specific to the paediatric population since children are dependent on a caregiver and are not often disclosed with the status of being infected. Analysing the factors affecting adherence, monitoring the side effects related to therapy and the progress of CD4 counts will help identify challenges to treatment and improve quality of life in these children.