quick clicks

special kids today articles

special kids today q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

The Delicate Cycle

Babies Infected with HIV

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

The difference between HIV positive and AIDS is an important one that is often confused by the layman. AIDS is now considered, in theory, to be a manageable chronic illness, and given the correct management, babies who are infected by HIV can lead normal lives.

AIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. AIDS was first identified in children in 1982, one year after its appearance in adults. Clinical manifestations of HIV infection range from asymptomatic infection to debilitating disease and death.

"AIDS is caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus – HIV," says Dr. Leighton McDonald, executive manager of Qualsa Healthcare and member of the Board of Governors of the South Africa Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (SABCOHA). "The virus infects the body's immune system and slowly destroys the body's ability to mount an immune response to infections. This results in the patient being susceptible to infections that would usually not cause any problems – these infections are called opportunistic infections for this reason. These infections include various types of tuberculosis, pneumonia, meningitis and oral/oesophageal thrush. Since the immune system is involved, babies with AIDS also have a higher incidence of minor childhood infections – coughs, colds, diarrhea, etc."

Perinatal transmission is the most common mode of acquisition among children in the United States. Children most commonly acquire HIV infection through maternal-infant transmission; however, not all infants born to HIV-infected women contract HIV infection.

"Estimated perinatal transmission among untreated HIV-infected women to their infants ranges from 13 to 30 percent," says Dr. Saroj Bakshi, the division chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center in Bronx, N.Y. "This mode of transmission can occur by three mechanisms: transplacental infection in the uterus, intra-partum infection during labor and delivery and/or postpartum infection through breast milk. HIV infection through sexual contact occurs in babies and small children who are sexually abused and molested."

Want to see more?

• Fear and Freedom: Encouraging Our Children to Enjoy Their Freedom Despite Our Own Fears
• Beyond Surprise and Shock: Learning Your Baby Has Special Needs
• How to Talk to Your Kids About Anything: 10 Tips
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.