Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical
College, Aligarh, India | Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical
College, Aligarh, India
Note: [] Correspondence: S. Manazir Ali, M.D., Department of Pediatrics,
J.N. Medical College A.M.U., Aligarh, India. Tel.: +91 9837142555, +91 571
3293098; Fax: +91571 2702758; E-mail: manazir1958@yahoo.com
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) seropositivity in severely malnourished children. Three hundred severely
malnourished children (defined as of weight for height
<70% according to WHO classification) were subjected to
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for detection of HIV antibodies. All the
severely malnourished children who were screened for HIV antibodies were found
to be negative. The seropositivity in severely malnourished children was found
to be zero. Hence, severe malnutrition cannot be an indication for routine
testing for HIV in this part of country. However, children with multiple risk
factors may be screened for HIV infection in a resource poor country like
India.
Keywords: HIV, protein energy malnutrition, malnourished children, India
