A child is born with an imperfect immune system. The final formation of immunity occurs only at the age of sixteen. That's why HIV, the main target of which is the immune system, causes children's body serious harm.
This article will tell you how it proceeds HIV-infection in children. Such knowledge will help parents prepare for difficulties and avoid complications of the baby’s illness.
What is HIV in children and how does the virus enter the body?
How HIV reproduces The first signs of HIV in children
Children of HIV-infected parents
Contrary to popular belief, HIV in parents does not mean that the child will necessarily be born with the disease. Thanks to modern methods treatment, in 98% of cases children from HIV-infected mothers are born healthy. Of course, for this it is important for a woman to monitor the amount of virus in her blood. Pregnancy of women with HIV must be planned.
Children from HIV-infected mothers are born healthy thanks to modern medicine
The following factors increase the risk that a child will be born with the immunodeficiency virus:
- a large amount of virus in the mother’s blood;
- incorrect or insufficient therapy HIV in a pregnant woman;
- premature effusion amniotic fluid during childbirth;
- prematurity of the child (with a gestational age of less than 37 weeks);
- child injuries during childbirth;
- cutting or tearing of the perineum during childbirth.
At the moment, doctors do not prohibit HIV-infected women natural childbirth. However, a caesarean section is safer for the baby - there is less risk that HIV transmitted through the mucous membrane of the mother's birth canal.
What does “HIV-contact child” mean?
My child is HIV positive. What to do?
Detection of an immunodeficiency virus in a child is difficult news for parents. But this dangerous disease, which must be treated as soon as possible - therefore, wasting time on sad thoughts is unacceptable.
To understand whether medications help or not, the child must undergo regular tests for his immune status. This way the quantity is determined immune cells in blood.
Treatment and its correction can only be carried out by a doctor. Self-medication is strictly unacceptable.
Today, the average life expectancy of children with HIV, like adults, is not limited. If a person takes medications conscientiously and regularly, then he lives a full life for decades. Proper treatment keeps the child healthy and prevents the development of fatal infections
HIV-infected children in kindergarten and school
Children with HIV are not dangerous to others and have the right to attend regular kindergartens and schools.
The disease is not transmitted:
- with hugs and kisses;
- by airborne droplets - when coughing, sneezing, talking;
- through dishes, linen, clothes, toys and household items.
Also HIV is not transmitted during medical procedures if the medical staff observes necessary rules security. Health workers must comply with these rules in any case, regardless of whether
Infection leads to progressive damage to the immune defense and the frequent development of opportunistic infections and cancer. A combination of antiretroviral drugs is used for treatment.
General information about the development and pathophysiology of HIV infection in children is similar to that in adults, but the route of infection clinical picture and treatment specifics often vary.
An infection in a child affects the entire family. In such cases, serological testing of siblings and parents is recommended. The doctor must provide the relatives of the sick child with all the necessary information and constantly advise them, Infected child rules of hygiene and behavior must be taught to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to others. When and how much a child talks about his illness depends on his age and maturity. Older children and adolescents should be aware of their diagnosis and the possibility of sexual transmission; they must receive all necessary advice. Families may be reluctant to ask other people for diagnosis because this can lead to social isolation. Feelings of guilt are common. Family members, including children, may develop depression and need specialist advice. Because HIV infection is not transmitted through the usual contacts common among children (for example, through saliva or tears), most HIV-infected children can attend school without restrictions. There is also no reason to limit the referral of such children to foster families, foster placement or care for HIV-infected children. Availability of conditions constituting increased danger to others (for example, if the child bites aggressively or has open wounds with exudate that cannot be isolated), may require special precautions.
Epidemiology of HIV infection and AIDS in children
More than 90% of children acquired the infection from their mother either before or during birth (vertical transmission). Most of the remaining children (including children with hemophilia or other bleeding disorders) received the disease through blood transfusions. Several cases are the result of sexual abuse. For less than 5% of cases, the source of the disease is not identified. Vertical transmission now characterizes almost all new cases of HIV infections among adolescents. Among adolescents, the HIV-infected population includes surviving children who acquired the disease as a result of vertical transmission, and persons with recently acquired infection (usually through sexual contact, especially homosexual contact between boys and men).
HIV infection has been detected in about 2 million children; more than 370 thousand children become infected every year (14% of all new infections).
Disease transmission
The risk is greatest for infants born to mothers who seroconverted during pregnancy and women with advanced disease, low CD4+ T-cell counts, or prolonged rupture of membranes. During childbirth naturally Of two twins, the first-born is at greater risk than the second-born, although this association may not be consistent in developing countries.
Caesarean section before the onset of active labor reduces the risk of MTCT. However, it is clear that PMR decreases most significantly with the use of antiretroviral therapy (including zidovudine)
