Neuropsychiatric Side Effects of Efavirenz in Children Living With HIV

Efavirenz is among the preferred antiretroviral drugs for HIV-infected children. Increasing evidence shows that central nervous system side-effects in adults are more common than previously thought. Still, reliable data in children are lacking. As HIV-infected children nowadays have a prospect of reaching adulthood, there is an urgent need to identify potential long-term central nervous system side-effects, interfering with neurodevelopment and psychosocial maturation. Using validated tools, we assessed (1) competence (social/activities/school) and psychopathology (internalizing/externalizing problems), (2) cognitive performance (intelligence and working memory), and (3) adherence in Tanzanian children on an efavirenz or non-efavirenz based regimen In this cross-sectional observational study the investigators will examine neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive functioning in 126 children (aged 6-11 years) on long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) with or without efavirenz.