Recurrent otitis media in the HIV–infected child

Abstract

  The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (USAIDS) reports that an estimated 370,000 children contracted HIV during the perinatal and breastfeeding period in 2009. In Japan, there are 51 documented cases of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. We saw a 5-year-old boy who was introduced for recurrent otitis media with vertical HIV transmission. He was categorized as A2 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification system, so Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) was introduced. During the observation period, the frequency of recurrent otitis media was significantly reduced, coincidentally with a decrease in HIV–RNA copy number due to HAART.
  A relatively higher prevalence of otitis media in HIV–infected children than in normal children was reported, and an article published recently reported that the use of HAART was associated with a reduction in the prevalence of chronic otitis media. In our case, the frequency of recurrent otitis media was significantly reduced after initiation of HAART. Our experience strongly suggests that HAART can prevent the recurrence of otitis media. Finally, from our experience, we hope that physicians will consider the possibility of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in cases of severe recurrent otitis media in childhood.