The pattern Of CD4 + T-lymphocyte count in under-5 children with protein energy malnutrition with or without HIV infection

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM), a major public health problem in the developing countries, has been associated with impaired cell-mediated immunity. Objectives: To describe the pattern ofCD4FNx01 T-lymphocyte count among malnourished children in relation to HIV infection. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted among children aged 6 months to 59 months with PEM seen at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto between 1 st November, 2009 and 30 th April, 2010. The age, sex and weight of the subjects were documented. The CD4FNx01T-lymphocyte count was determined using Partec cytoflow machine and HIV infection was confirmed with ELISA for children > 1-8 months and DNA PCR for those aged