{"id":{"repo_id":"cape-town","oai_identifier":"oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/14309"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cape-town/oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/14309","repository":{"repo_id":"cape-town","name":"University of Cape Town","base_url":"https://open.uct.ac.za/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Profile of specific neurological and neurobehavioural problems in children with HIV-1 infection attending dedicated clinics","abstract":"Aim: Neurological involvement related to HIV-1 infection is well described in the paediatric population and causes significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to describe specific neurological and neurobehavioural complications in this population. Method: Children infected with HIV-1 attending infectious diseases clinics were recruited for general and neurological assessments, developmental history screening and categorization of behavioural phenotype using the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC). Results: Eighty patients were assessed (males - 44/80: females - 36/80) (median age 5 years 1 month; range: 3 months - 12 yrs). Eighteen patients (23%) were not on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy at the time of testing. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) immune categories of the patients at the time of assessment were: Category 1- n=6/80, Category 2- n=15/80 and Category 3- n=59/80. Thirty-three percent had a history of chronic lung disease, 10% had a history of an opportunistic central nervous system infection and 12.5% had epilepsy. 5 5 Anthropometric measurements identified that 19% of the patients were microcephalic, 17% of the patients were < 60% of their expected weight, 49% were 60-80% of expected weight and 45% were stunted. On neurological assessment 41% of the patients had global pyramidal tract signs, 7% had a hemiparesis, 5% had peripheral neuropathy, 16% had visual impairment, and 6% were hearing impaired. Of those who were screened for developmental deficits (patients < 6years of age) 66% had gross motor delay, 75% had fine motor delay, 70% had language delay and 73% had cognitive delay. Forty one percent had HIV Encephalopathy, 81% of whom a CD4 count < 15% and 48% were < 1year old. On the aberrant behaviour checklist (ABC) scale 24/80 patients had features of hyperactivity and 22/80 patients scored in the mild-moderate range on the lethargy / social withdrawal sub-scale reflecting a correlation with the affective and adjustment disorders. Conclusion: Diverse neurological and neurobehavioural deficits are common in children with HIV-1 infection especially those with CD4 < 15%, not on ARVs, with growth impairment and < 1yr of age. This study demonstrated the extent and spectrum of neurobehavioural and neurological complications in a defined HIV population. It stresses the need for early initiation of ARVs in the planning for future regimens and guidelines.","abstract_html":"Aim: Neurological involvement related to HIV-1 infection is well described in the paediatric population and causes significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to describe specific neurological and neurobehavioural complications in this population. Method: Children infected with HIV-1 attending infectious diseases clinics were recruited for general and neurological assessments, developmental history screening and categorization of behavioural phenotype using the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC). Results: Eighty patients were assessed (males - 44/80: females - 36/80) (median age 5 years 1 month; range: 3 months - 12 yrs). Eighteen patients (23%) were not on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy at the time of testing. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) immune categories of the patients at the time of assessment were: Category 1- n=6/80, Category 2- n=15/80 and Category 3- n=59/80. Thirty-three percent had a history of chronic lung disease, 10% had a history of an opportunistic central nervous system infection and 12.5% had epilepsy. 5 5 Anthropometric measurements identified that 19% of the patients were microcephalic, 17% of the patients were &lt; 60% of their expected weight, 49% were 60-80% of expected weight and 45% were stunted. On neurological assessment 41% of the patients had global pyramidal tract signs, 7% had a hemiparesis, 5% had peripheral neuropathy, 16% had visual impairment, and 6% were hearing impaired. Of those who were screened for developmental deficits (patients &lt; 6years of age) 66% had gross motor delay, 75% had fine motor delay, 70% had language delay and 73% had cognitive delay. Forty one percent had HIV Encephalopathy, 81% of whom a CD4 count &lt; 15% and 48% were &lt; 1year old. On the aberrant behaviour checklist (ABC) scale 24/80 patients had features of hyperactivity and 22/80 patients scored in the mild-moderate range on the lethargy / social withdrawal sub-scale reflecting a correlation with the affective and adjustment disorders. Conclusion: Diverse neurological and neurobehavioural deficits are common in children with HIV-1 infection especially those with CD4 &lt; 15%, not on ARVs, with growth impairment and &lt; 1yr of age. This study demonstrated the extent and spectrum of neurobehavioural and neurological complications in a defined HIV population. It stresses the need for early initiation of ARVs in the planning for future regimens and guidelines.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Govender, Rajeshree"],"institution":"Department of Paediatrics and Child Health","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Wilmshurst, Jo"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2010,"date_issued":"2010","date_published":"2010","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:43Z","subjects":[],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14309","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Wilmshurst, Jo"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Govender, Rajeshree"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2015-10-25T17:04:32Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-10-25T17:04:32Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2010"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Department of Paediatrics and Child Health"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cape Town"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["MPhil"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14309"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-42)."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Aim: Neurological involvement related to HIV-1 infection is well described in the paediatric population and causes significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to describe specific neurological and neurobehavioural complications in this population. Method: Children infected with HIV-1 attending infectious diseases clinics were recruited for general and neurological assessments, developmental history screening and categorization of behavioural phenotype using the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC). Results: Eighty patients were assessed (males - 44/80: females - 36/80) (median age 5 years 1 month; range: 3 months - 12 yrs). Eighteen patients (23%) were not on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy at the time of testing. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) immune categories of the patients at the time of assessment were: Category 1- n=6/80, Category 2- n=15/80 and Category 3- n=59/80. Thirty-three percent had a history of chronic lung disease, 10% had a history of an opportunistic central nervous system infection and 12.5% had epilepsy. 5 5 Anthropometric measurements identified that 19% of the patients were microcephalic, 17% of the patients were < 60% of their expected weight, 49% were 60-80% of expected weight and 45% were stunted. On neurological assessment 41% of the patients had global pyramidal tract signs, 7% had a hemiparesis, 5% had peripheral neuropathy, 16% had visual impairment, and 6% were hearing impaired. Of those who were screened for developmental deficits (patients < 6years of age) 66% had gross motor delay, 75% had fine motor delay, 70% had language delay and 73% had cognitive delay. Forty one percent had HIV Encephalopathy, 81% of whom a CD4 count < 15% and 48% were < 1year old. On the aberrant behaviour checklist (ABC) scale 24/80 patients had features of hyperactivity and 22/80 patients scored in the mild-moderate range on the lethargy / social withdrawal sub-scale reflecting a correlation with the affective and adjustment disorders. Conclusion: Diverse neurological and neurobehavioural deficits are common in children with HIV-1 infection especially those with CD4 < 15%, not on ARVs, with growth impairment and < 1yr of age. This study demonstrated the extent and spectrum of neurobehavioural and neurological complications in a defined HIV population. It stresses the need for early initiation of ARVs in the planning for future regimens and guidelines."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Profile of specific neurological and neurobehavioural problems in children with HIV-1 infection attending dedicated clinics"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Wilmshurst, Jo"],"dc:creator":["Govender, Rajeshree"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2015-10-25T17:04:32Z"],"dc:date.available":["2015-10-25T17:04:32Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2010"],"dc:description":["Includes bibliographical references (leaves 33-42)."],"dc:description.abstract":["Aim: Neurological involvement related to HIV-1 infection is well described in the paediatric population and causes significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to describe specific neurological and neurobehavioural complications in this population. Method: Children infected with HIV-1 attending infectious diseases clinics were recruited for general and neurological assessments, developmental history screening and categorization of behavioural phenotype using the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC). Results: Eighty patients were assessed (males - 44/80: females - 36/80) (median age 5 years 1 month; range: 3 months - 12 yrs). Eighteen patients (23%) were not on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy at the time of testing. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) immune categories of the patients at the time of assessment were: Category 1- n=6/80, Category 2- n=15/80 and Category 3- n=59/80. Thirty-three percent had a history of chronic lung disease, 10% had a history of an opportunistic central nervous system infection and 12.5% had epilepsy. 5 5 Anthropometric measurements identified that 19% of the patients were microcephalic, 17% of the patients were < 60% of their expected weight, 49% were 60-80% of expected weight and 45% were stunted. On neurological assessment 41% of the patients had global pyramidal tract signs, 7% had a hemiparesis, 5% had peripheral neuropathy, 16% had visual impairment, and 6% were hearing impaired. Of those who were screened for developmental deficits (patients < 6years of age) 66% had gross motor delay, 75% had fine motor delay, 70% had language delay and 73% had cognitive delay. Forty one percent had HIV Encephalopathy, 81% of whom a CD4 count < 15% and 48% were < 1year old. On the aberrant behaviour checklist (ABC) scale 24/80 patients had features of hyperactivity and 22/80 patients scored in the mild-moderate range on the lethargy / social withdrawal sub-scale reflecting a correlation with the affective and adjustment disorders. Conclusion: Diverse neurological and neurobehavioural deficits are common in children with HIV-1 infection especially those with CD4 < 15%, not on ARVs, with growth impairment and < 1yr of age. This study demonstrated the extent and spectrum of neurobehavioural and neurological complications in a defined HIV population. It stresses the need for early initiation of ARVs in the planning for future regimens and guidelines."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14309"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher.department":["Department of Paediatrics and Child Health"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cape Town"],"dc:title":["Profile of specific neurological and neurobehavioural problems in children with HIV-1 infection attending dedicated clinics"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Masters"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["MPhil"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:43Z"}