Abstract:

Pediatric HIV remains a significant public health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings such as Pakistan. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential for improving outcomes. This study aimed to determine the frequency of pediatric HIV infection among high-risk children admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Sukkur, Sindh. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 125 high-risk children screened for HIV using an HIV-1/2 rapid test cassette. Only screening tests were performed because confirmatory PCR, CD4 counts, and genetic workups were not available. Among 125 children, 12 (9.6%) tested HIV-positive; 7 (58.3%) were male and 5 (41.7%) female. Nine (75%) cases were from Sindh and three (25%) from Balochistan. All HIV-positive children were below the 3rd weight-for-age centile, with failure to thrive being the most common indication for testing. Unsafe injection practices were reported in 50% and a history of blood transfusion in 41.7%. None had HIV-positive parents. Tuberculosis co-infection was present in 16.7%, and two HIV-positive children died during the study period. Only 33.3% were fully vaccinated. The findings highlight a high HIV positivity rate among high-risk children and emphasize the need for targeted screening, confirmatory diagnostics, safe injection practices, blood safety, and strengthened pediatric HIV surveillance in high-risk regions of Pakistan.

Biography:

Dr. Waqar Ahmed is a pediatrician and Pediatric Infectious Diseases specialist at the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN), Sukkur, Pakistan. He is involved in pediatric clinical care, infectious diseases management, teaching, research, and quality improvement initiatives. His research interests include pediatric infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, HIV, vaccine-preventable diseases, and infection prevention and control. He has published research in international peer-reviewed journals and is actively involved in clinical research and academic activities.