Impact of age and gender on the CD4+ t-lymphocyte count among apparently healthy under-5 children as seen in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

background: CD4+ T-lymphocyte is a subset of T-lymphocyte that plays a pivotal role in immune response. It is a major target of viruses like HIV. As a result, its monitoring forms an important part of the management of HIV infected patients.

objectives: To determine the effect(s) of the age and gender on the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and percentage among apparently healthy under-5 Nigerian children.

methodology: It was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted among apparently healthy well-nourished HIVnegative under-5 children aged 6 months to 59 months from January 1st to June 30th 2011. The age, gender and weight of these children were documented. The CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and percentages were determined using Partec cytoflow machine. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 20.0. A p-value %E2%89%A4 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.

Results: One-hundred children were studied over the period. The mean age (±SD) was 19.1+9.7 months. There were63 males and 37 females. The mean CD4+ T-lymphocyte count was highest among those aged 6.0 – 11.9 months(2675.7±464.5cells/?L) and lowest among 48 –59.9months of age (1770.0±70.7cells/?L) showing a negativecorrelation (r= - 0.52, p=0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in the mean CD4+ T-lymphocytecount of the females (2144±553cells/?L) and the males (2120±483cells/?L) (t= 0.22, p= 0.83). There were nosignificant differences in the mean CD4+ T-cell percent across the age group (F=0.28,p=0.89) and between thegender (t=0.03,p=0.98).

conclusion: The age has depletive effect on the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count; however, gender seems to have no significant effect on the CD4+ T-lymphocyte count among under-5 children.

Key Words: Impact, Age, Gender, Under-5, CD4+ T-Lymphocyte