HIV exposure accidents in children. Experience at the emergency admission services of the CHU of Nice]

Accidental exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), either by injury with a discarded syringe or after sexual abuse, increases among the children population.The entire period of the study was seven-year. Twenty-eight children (14 males, 14 females) underwent three visits after an accidental exposure at Day 0, Day 30th and Day 90th. During each visit, a physical examination, liver enzymes, Ag P24, PCR-RNA HIV, B, C hepatitis serologies were performed. An antiretroviral prophylaxis was proposed when a high risk of HIV transmission was recognized. Anti hepatitis B globulins were administrated when no previous immunization had been made.The median age was 9.3 years (range: 1.5 to 16.7 years). 93% of the children consulted within 48 hours after exposure. Five of them consulted after a sexual aggression with penetration, two after a mucosus exposition and two after deep needle injuries. The source of the contamination was known in five cases. Nine patients were given an antiretroviral treatment for four weeks (seven bitherapy, two tritherapy), with no major side effects. Eighteen and 11 children were seen at the second and third visits, respectively. No case of HIV or HCV infection was observed.No case of infection after injury with a discarded syringe was found in our study. This situation differs from what is observed in health care workers, where the higher risk factor is observed. Even if no contamination was found after sexual aggression in our population, the risk of HIV is actual. This is why we propose an antiretroviral prophylaxis against HIV in only one indication, corresponding to sexual penetration.