Caring for a HIV positive baby
The HIV virus depletes the white blood cells thus lowering the body’s immunity. Therefore, a person infected with HIV needs special care, be it young or old. As the main care providers, women living with the HIV virus have the greater responsibility when it comes to taking care of a HIV positive child. A lot of care is needed for the baby to turn out alright and not succumb to AIDS at an early age.
What care is given to HIV positive children?
Apart from supplementary feeding, the environment of a child exposed to HIV should be clean. There should be easy access to a health centre because such a child is prone to illness. It is prudent to keep some funds aside in case of an emergency. If a mother notes signs such as refusal to feed, difficulty in breathing, anaemia, diarrhoea and vomiting, she should consult a paeditrician or a doctor immediately.
How do babies acquire the virus?
Through pregnancy, delivery and breast milk of a HIV positive mother. Due to provision of ARV’s to expectant mothers, there is a high chance that the baby may not contract the disease during pregnancy. But if not handled well, and if not advised against breastfeeding, the baby may contract the virus.
According to the World Health Organization website, 30 per cent of newborns contract the HIV virus within one year after birth through breastfeeding. Thus a child should be on supplementary feeding from once delivered. This may be expensive for the parents but it goes a long way to keep the virus away from the new born.
How are newborns tested for HIV?
Babies born to HIV positive mothers retain antibodies from their mothers. Thus, a HIV test that is done six weeks after birth with a polymerase chain result test may be positive even if the baby does not have HIV infection. After the child is one-and-a-half years, he no longer has the antibodies from the mother and can undergo the Elisa test (a test that detects the presence of the HIV antibody in a sample of blood). This test will give an accurate result.
How can I minimize mother-to-child transmission?
By taking anti-retroviral drugs during the second and last trimester of pregnancy and during labour, a mother greatly reduces chances of spreading the HIV virus to her unborn child. The child may also be given an injection of anti-retroviral therapy after birth. Then he should be bottle-fed and not breastfed.
Access to information
Information and counseling must be available at post natal clinics because a mother may be doing practicing the wrong things out of ignorance. Parents of such a child should ensure they read as much information as possible to keep in stride with new information and developments. Most of it is free, provided int health centers and hospitals.
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