A case of human bite by an 11-year old HIV positive girl in a Paediatrics ward

Abstract

Biting is a possible mode of transmission of HIV infection, though the risk of such transmission is believed to be low. Children infected with HIV are at risk of psychological complications as a result of direct or indirect effects associated with the disease. We report the case of an 11-year-old HIV positive girl with clinical stage IV disease, who was involved in multiple disputes while on admission on the ward. During one of the disputes she inflicted a deep bite injury on a 10-year old boy. HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was commenced 6 hours after the bite and he has remained HIV negative 12 months later. What is peculiar about this case is that the incident occurred in a hospital setting and biting is not usually expected among children of this age. In the era of HIV/A IDS, it is recommended that persons involved in childcare be aware of this potential risk during interactions among children. It is also essential for health care personnel to have sufficient knowledge about PEP in order to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in similar settings. In addition, a multi-disciplinary approach to the management of children living with HIV is important in order to identify and address psychosocial factors that may influence symptoms and medical treatment outcome. The risk of transmission of HIV through human bites and the psychosocial impact of the disease on children are also discussed.