Abstract

Children with laryngeal airway obstruction (LAO) require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The unresolved ethical dilemma of ICU access for HIV infected children in resource poor settings requires further scientific data to help guide triaging. Of 38 children with LAO, 19 had HIV infection. The mortality, need for supportive management, duration of intubation, intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and ICU and hospitalisation stay were similar in the HIV infected group compared to the HIV uninfected group. Episodes of laryngotracheobronchitis were equally distributed between both groups (31.6% v 31.3%), while oropharyngeal/laryngeal candidiasis (26.3%), tuberculosis (15.8%), and benign lymphoid hyperplasia (15.8%) were commonly seen in the HIV infected group.