James Bunn, MSc, DTM&H, FRCPCH
Name: James Bunn, MBBS, MSc, DTM&H, FRCPCH
Hospital, institution: School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
Planned completion year: 2011
Name project: Severe malnutrition and HIV in Malawian children
|
Improved management of malnutrition, particularly in those infected with HIV, through better understanding of epidemiology and management
HIV infection is common in children presenting with severe acute malnutrition in Malawi, and is strongly associated with mortality during admission. The presenting features associated with HIV, problems staging HIV in a food insecure population, the different therapeutic needs, and the long tern outcomes are poorly described. An understanding of these would help improve care. With the recent improved access to ARVs in Malawi, there is a need to determine the appropriate criteria and timing of ARVs in the care of children with acute malnutrition.
|
Improved treatment
We would hope to improve the treatment of children with HIV presenting with malnutrition. Firstly through the better identification of HIV infected cases. Secondly by determining opportunities to improve care, particularly the use of probiotics, antibiotics, and ARVs. And thirdly to identify factors associated with short and long-term mortality.
|
Policy
The information gained will be shared with government to help develop national policies informed by local practice and experience.
|
Funding
UNICEF have funded 2 projects. The first ($20,000) was to stage children presenting with HIV using clinical criteria, and using CD4. The second ($20,000) to determine the long term outcomes of children with malnutrition treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. This follows a cohort of children recruited to a study of probiotics on the management of severe malnutrition. Data has been collected from both these projects.
|
|
|
