Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
[20-years experiences of HIV infected children's care]
Magdalena Marczyńska1, Jolanta Popielska, Małgorzata Szczepańska-Putz
1Klinika Chorób Zakaźnych Wieku Dzieciecego AM, Wojewódzki Szpital Zakaźny w Warszawie.
Insights
Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission is crucial. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prophylaxis significantly reduces HIV risk in newborns, enabling children to reach adulthood with proper care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Context:
- Over 20 years of data (1987-2006) on children born to HIV-positive mothers.
- Investigated 305 children, analyzing transmission routes, diagnosis reasons, and coinfections (HBV, HCV).
Purpose:
- To present 20-year experiences in medical care for children born to HIV-positive mothers and HIV-infected children.
- To evaluate the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in reducing vertical HIV transmission and managing HIV infection.
Summary:
- 75 cases of vertical HIV infection and 8 other infections identified.
- Prophylaxis reduced vertical HIV transmission risk from 45.6% to 5%.
- ART demonstrated significant efficacy: 85% viral, 89% immunological, and 85% clinical improvement.
Impact:
- Current prophylaxis, suppressing maternal viral load, reduces vertical HIV transmission to 0-1%.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are vital for HIV-infected children, enabling them to reach maturity.
- Recommends HIV testing for all women of childbearing age and early diagnostics for newborns.
Objective:
The aim was to present the 20-years experiences of medical care of children borne to HIV(+) mothers and HIV infected children.
Methods:
Between 1987 and 2006 year 305 children borne to HIV(+) mother were investigated. The risk of vertical transmission was estimated. We analyzed routs of HIV transmission, the reasons of HIV diagnosis, HIV staging at diagnosis, HBV and HCV coinfection, ART treatment and its efficacy.
Main Observations And Results:
HIV infection was confirmed: 75 cases of vertical HIV infection and 8 children infected in other ways. 260 children were borne after 1994 year (the date of introducing recommendation of the use of ART to reduce perinatal transmission of HIV). 158 of them received prophylaxis of vertical HIV infection. The risk of HIV vertical in children receiving prophylaxis was 5% comparing to 45.6% risk in children without prophylaxis regimens. 66 children receive ART regimen. The efficacy of treatment was: viral 85%, immunological: 89% and clinical: 85% improvement.
Conclusions:
HIV testing should be offered to every women in the child-bearing age. Current prophylaxis, which suppress maternal VL HIV below detection level, decrease the risk of vertical HIV transmission to 0-1%. The child born to HIV(+) mother requires early diagnostics of HIV, HBV, HCV infections. Because of rapid progression of the disease, the HIV infected child should be diagnosed and treated since the first year of life. Properly treated children reach to mature age.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
