AIDS in Children

Aids is characterized by loss of immune functions, fomally designated Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused by infection with Human immunodeficiency Virus(HIV).Aids has now attained a form of unique pandemic ,with most of the countries like America, Europe and Africa being most affected and Asia least affected. In the year 2002, an estimated 8, 00,000 children less than 15 years were newly infected with HIV, and 6, 10,000 died of the disease. Both HIV and AIDS are now well established in india.HIV is an enveloped RNA virus which help in destroying the immune functions of the human body. It is a labile virus inactivated by heat, ether ,acetone,ethanol,sodium hypochlorite etc.Virus transmission in adults occurs through sexual intercourse, needles sticks, contaminated blood and blood products these are collectively called horizontal transmission. Mostly 90 percent of HIV infection is acquired to children from infected mother, this is called vertical transmission. This infection may be transmitted to children from mother during delivery and also through breast feeding .HIV is not transmitted by food, water, mosquitos or casual contact. At the time of birth, HIV infected infants are generally asymptomatic. After that clinical disease may be appear in two forms they are rapid and slow progressive forms. Rapid progression set in form 3-4 months of age. But in slow progression these infected children may present not as late as 8 years of life. There is no specific treatment either for HIV infection or for the immunodeficiency caused by it