HIV and COVID 19 Coinfection in Children: Case Report

Abstract

Honduras reported its first two cases of COVID-19 on March 11, 2020, currently reporting a total of 64, 352 confirmed cases with 2,006 deaths that estimate a fatality rate of 3.1%. The presence of comorbidities that weaken the immune system is associated with an increase in the severity and mortality of the disease, which is why it has been questioned whether human immunodeficiency virus infection increases the risk of contagion and the severity of the COVID-19 due to the presence of low CD4 cell count. In Honduras, for May 2020, 38,291 accumulated HIV cases were registered, of which 2,086 correspond to children under 14 years of age. In this report, 2 pediatric patients with HIV coinfected with COVID-19 treated at the Hospital Nacional Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas (HNMCR) from the onset of the pandemic in March to September 2020 were included. Both patients were hospitalized for their critical clinical condition and the need for ventilatory support in patient 2. Both patients were receiving antiretroviral therapy, however, patient 2 had poor adherence and was severely immunosuppressed and died 2 days after hospital admission. In conclusion, once again adherence to ART remains important in children with HIV in order to achieve undetectable viral load improving their immune status, and avoiding opportunistic infections associated with HIV, as well as responding adequately to any other disease.