HIV SEROPOSITIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE

Background: Blood transfusion forms an integral part of management of sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is also established as a route of transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), especially in developing nations that are lacking in properly organized blood transfusion services. Methods: A retrospective study of randomly selected sickle cell anaemia patients screened for HIV antibodies in the paediatric haematology clinic of A.B.U.T.H., Zaria, Nigeria. Results: Twenty-nine (52.7%) males and 26 (47.3%) females were studied. Mean age (± 1 standard deviation) was 68.5 ±37.0 months. One (1.8%) of 55 patients was HIV-seropositive. The parents of this patient were HIV-seronegative. Twenty-five (45.5%) had positive history of blood transfusion and 22 (40.0%) had intramuscular injections outside the teaching hospital setting. Conclusion: The HIV-seropositive rate in this study is well below national estimates but highlights the continued risks of inadequate blood banking systems.