Doctors encounter challenges is diagnosing HIV in children during the first year of life. Infants may have symptoms such as inadequate weight gain, intermittent diarrhea, and pneumonia. Later, symptoms may involve a broad array of health issues, depending on the severity of the HIV.
The source of HIV transmission in children is usually the parent who has birthed them. Exposure to the virus may occur in the womb, during childbirth, or when breastfeeding.
Treatment is the same as for adults with HIV — antiretroviral therapy (ART). If an infant has a severe case of HIV, the risk of death within the first few months is high even with treatment. Afterward, the likelihood of death drops quickly, and the long-term risk is low.
This article will look at the transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV in children. It will also discuss the outlook for children with HIV.
