Profile of Young South African Children Hospitalized With HIV: Cause for Concern

Elri du Plooy1, Lisa Frigati1, Amy Slogrove1,2,3

  • 1From the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

We describe the history of mother-to-child-prevention, time to HIV diagnosis and antiretroviral therapy of 55 hospitalized HIV-positive children (median age, 5.7 months). Of 31 (56%) mothers who knew their HIV status prior to pregnancy, 11 (35%) did not attend antenatal clinics; those who did attend had poor viral suppression. Despite rapid recognition and access to treatment, 13% of hospitalized HIV-positive infants died. Strategies to reach the mothers driving vertical transmission are imperative.

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