Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Hepatitis B Virus (HIV/HBV) co-infection in Nigerian children has emerged as a major concern with the advent of HAART. Its impact on the immune system and liver has not been extensively studied in children. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of HBV seropositivity among HIV positive children on HAART and its effect on immune response and liver enzymes. Methods: All consecutive HIV positive children aged two months to seventeen years on HAART constituted the study population. Age and gender; CD4+ count, ALT, creatinine and HBsAg were tested and documented at enrolment and 12months. Results: One hundred and seventy one patients were seen over this period. Seventy-two (43.4%) were males while 94 (56.6%) were females giving a male: female ratio of 1:1.3. The mean age of the patients was 63±43.4 months. Prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection was 6.02% (95% CI 2.4-9.7). There was no significant effect of HBV status on elevation of ALT levels with 12 months of HAART. Co-infected patients had an odds ratio of achieving immune response of 0.14 (95% CI 0.02-0.79). Conclusion: HIV/HBV co-infection rates in our children are comparable to other localities. ALT levels do not worsen with HAART and immune response of the co-infected children on HAART is lower. African Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 955 -961 http://dx

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is the commonest global chronic human bacterial infection. Data from developed countries show that acquisition occurs in childhood but manifestation of chronic gastroduodenal diseases occur more commonly in adulthood. H. pylori infection has however been associated with paediatric primary peptic ulcer disease, though data is rather scanty. There is virtually no data on the clinical correlates of the seropositive Nigerian paediatric subjects though the little data available shows higher prevalence rates compared to that of children from developed countries. Objectives: A prospective observational survey was carried out to determine the clinical correlates of H. pylori infection in ill children admitted in the emergency unit of our department. Methods: H. pylori Immunoglobulin G antibody was determined from serum samples stored at-20 0 C using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, VicTorch. Data was analysed with using SPSS and correlates determined as appropriate. Results: The subjects were 132 (57.4%) males and 98(42.6%) females (male: female ratio= 1.3:1.0) with an age range of 0.5-15 years and a mean age of 5.0 (SD±4.0) years. The overall seroprevalence rate was 30.9%. Clinical features includ ing ab do minal p ains, (p=0.001), fetor oris, (p=0.0001), diarrhoea (0.041) and family history of dyspepsia (p=0.002), showed significant association with seropositivity. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Nigerian children is high and is associated with common gastroduodenal symptoms.