HIV Parents and Their Kids
1426-1427
Correspondence
D. Vijaya
Professor & HOD Microbiology
AIMS, B.G.Nagara 571448
Karnataka, India
Phone: 94820 09120
E-mail; vijayadanand@rediffemail.com
Introduction: Human immune deficiency virus infection is most distressing as it involves the next generation. Most HIV infection in developing countries like India is transmitted heterosexually infecting woman, which inturn leads to perinatal transmission. Materials and Methods: The aim of the present study is to determine prevalence of HIV infection in children of HIV infected either/both parents. This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of 150 children (Mean age 5.04 years) belonging to 110 families.
Observations: Out of 150 children 36 (24%) were seropositive for HIV infection (19 boys, 17 girls). Maximum number of seropositive children was found in the age of 2-4 years (35.84%). When both parents were positive, father positive and mother negative, father negative and mother positive, children were positive in 28.57%, 0% and 33.33% respectively.
Conclusion: This is a preliminary report of children having HIV infection in relation to parents HIV status with no access to antiretroviral therapy to the mother or newborn. This study highlights that in the absence of intervention, rate of vertical transmission of HIV is very high. The increasing number of HIV infected adults, particularly women makes the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV a public health priority in developing country like India.