HIV in Children

Question 1

What are common presentations of HIV in children

Answer 1

Many different presentations

Oral thrush
Skin rashes (incl. molluscum contagiosum wide spread)
Recurrent infection
Lymphadenopathy
TB
Shingles in children (especially if >1dermatome)
Severe failure to thrive

Question 2

What is the transmission rate of untreated HIV during pregnancy and breast feeding?

Answer 2

around 1/3

(dependant on Viral Load - very high viral load around 2/3, new infection during pregnancy high risk bc of high viral load aswell)

Question 3

What are the main routes of vertical transmission of HIV?

Answer 3

1. Pregnancy (placenta)
2. Birth (increased risk with PROM, decreased risk in elective C-sections)
3. Breastfeeding (Can also be source of transmission - drinking 1L of milk = risk of one time of unprotected sex)