Haematological features in children less than 12 years on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis seen in opportunistic infection clinics at Harare and Parirenyatwa Teaching Hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of peripheral haematological abnormalities in children receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis.

DESIGN: An outpatient hospital based cross sectional study.

SETTING: The study was conducted at two tertiary peadiatric HIV clinics that offer comprehensive care to children living with HIV.

SUBJECTS: 202 HIV infected, antiretroviral therapy naive children aged between 3 months and 12 years who were receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for at least 1 month with more than95% adherence to prophylaxis were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Haematological abnormalities on full blood count and peripheral film.

RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia was 62% with normocytic normochromic anaemia being the most frequent type (45%). The commonest red blood cell abnormality was rouleaux formation on the peripheral film. Monocytosis occurred in 62%, leucopaenia in 39%, eosinophilia in 34%, neutropaenia in 18% and lymphopaenia in 10% of the children.

CONCLUSION: This study showed a high prevalence ofhaematological abnormalities in HIV infected children on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. It emphasizes the need for evaluation for anaemia and its management in children on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis.