Bone diseases in HIV infected children at a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Abstract

In a study 78 consecutive HIV infected children attending a pediatric Anti-retroviral clinic in a Nigerian 
Tertiary hospital over a seven year period, seven (9.0%) children had bone diseases. The 78 children were 
made up of 35 girls and 43 boys with their ages ranging between 9 months - 11 years. The bone diseases 
were single cases of, fractured humerus, fractured clavicle, septic arthritis of the left hip, osteomyelitis of 
the right index finger, left knee septic arthritis with dactylitis of the right fourth finger, bilateral genu valgum 
and unilateral genu valrum each. Complications of digital amputation and destruction of the femoral head 
with consequent limb shortening were recorded in the children with digital osteomyelitis and septic arthritis 
respectively. Healing of the femoral head and the shortened limb was noted after 2 years of HAART therapy. 
The differences between the 2 cases of bone diseases recorded among the 57 children on HAART, 
compared to 5 children that developed bone disease amongst the remainder 11 yet to be initiated on 
HAART is significant. (X2 =5.46, P = 0.02). It is concluded HAART administration is associated with lower 
occurrence of bone disease and good outcome amongst those with infectious bone diseases.