HIV & AIDS Health Center -
An estimated 2.5 million children around the world are living with HIV/AIDs, according to the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (JNAIDS) "2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic."
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The virus damages or destroys the cells of the immune system, leaving them unable to fight infections and certain cancers.
Causes of HIV in Children
Most HIV infections in children are passed from mother to child during pregnancy,labor and delivery, or breastfeeding. However, thanks to preventive treatment regimens, the incidence of mother-to-child HIV transmission is decreasing. In 2009, an estimated 370,000 children contracted HIV during the perinatal and breastfeeding period, down from 500,000 in 2001, according to the JNAIDS report.
33 Million People Now Live With HIV. How Did We Get Here?
Other causes of child HIV include:
Blood transfusions. Blood transfusions using infected blood or injections with unsterilized needles can lead to HIV infection and AIDS in children. In the U.S. and other wealthier countries this problem has been virtually eliminated, but in poor countries this still occurs.
Illicit drug use. In central and Eastern Europe, injected drug use continues to spread HIV among young people living on the streets. In one study in the Ukraine, high-risk behaviors, including sharing needles, were prevalent among children as young as 10.
Sexual transmission. Although sexual transmission is not a main cause of HIV/AIDS among children, it does occur in countries where children become sexually active at an early age. Children may also become infected through sexual abuse or rape.
Symptoms of HIV/AIDS in Children
Many babies and children living with HIV are known or suspected to have the infection because their mothers are known to be infected. However, sometimes infection is not suspected until a child develops symptoms. Symptoms of HIVinfection vary by age and individual child, but following are some of the more common symptoms:
- Failure to thrive, which is the failure to gain weight or grow according to standardized growth charts used by pediatricians.
- Failure to reach developmental milestones during the expected time frame.
- Brain or nervous system problems, characterized by seizures, difficulty with walking, or poor performance in school.
- Frequent childhood illnesses such as ear infections, colds, upset stomach, anddiarrhea.
As HIV infection becomes more advanced, children start to develop opportunistic infections. These are infections that rarely affect healthy people but can be deadly for people whose immune systems aren't working properly. Common opportunistic infections related to HIV include:
- Pneumocystis pneumonia -- a fungal infection of the lungs
- Serious infection due to cytomegalovirus (CMV)
- A condition of lung scarring called lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP)
- Oral thrush or severe diaper rash due to Candida, a yeast infection
Treatments for Child HIV and AIDS
Due to improved prevention and treatment, AIDS-related deaths among children around the world are declining.
Anyone Can Get HIV
Fact. About 56,000 people in the U.S. get HIV each year, and 18,000 people with AIDS die each year. Anyone can get HIV -- men, women, and children, people who are gay or straight. Men who have sex with men make up more than half (53%) of new HIV infections each year. Women account for 27% of new infections, and children 13%. African-Americans make up almost half of all new HIV infections each year.
Quick Facts
Anyone Can Get HIV
More than 1 million people are living with HIV in the United States.
1 in 5 doesn't know they are infected, according to the CDC.
- Around 1900, A Hunter Got the Virus From a Pan Troglodytes Chimpanzee.
- Kaposi's Sarcoma is a Purple Spotted Coloring of the skin, which is a Aides Related Cancer.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, Aides is known as the "SLIM DISEASE".
- Dr. Montagnier and Barre-Sinoussi discovered the Aides Virus.
- It wasn't until 1986 that researchers agreed to call the virus HIV.
- The virus was found from a swollen lymph gland of a Aides Patient.
- Elizabeth Taylor was the spokeswoman for the American Foundation for Aides Research.
- In 1985 The first HIV Test was licensed & Blood Banks started screening donations.
- In 1986, president Ronald Reagan publicly announces the word Aides.
- In 1987 Reagan makes the 1st AIDES Speech and urges People to talk about it.
- In 1987 US forbids immigration for people with AIDES virus, 2010 Obama Reversed the Policy.
- In 1988, the 1st World AIDES day was held on DECEMBER FIRST.
- In 1991, the RED RIBBON was introduced as the SYMBOL of AIDES & Magic Johnson Announces he is infected with HIV.
- In 1992, AIDES becomes the leading cause of DEATH in USA men aged 25-44.
- In 1993, CDC launches first condom ads on TV, in hopes to prevent spreading the virus.
- In 1996 the first break through on anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) was discovered, reducing AIDES Deaths in America by 40%.
- In 2005, There is a break out of the Aides virus in CALIFORNIA's Porn Industry.
- In 2006, UNAIDES recommend adult circumcision after finding that it reduced the transmission from woman to men by half.
- In 2008, CDC states America is worse than first thought of, that Aides was increased by 11% since 2003.
- Most cases are related to men who have sex with other men.
- 33 million people now live with AIDES, but less than a third are getting medical attention, yet globally AIDES is in Declination.
- In 2010, Polls show that Americans no longer consider AIDES a major problem.
- 31% of AIDES cases are Heterosexual
- 12% of the US population are African Americans & account for 45% of the new HIV Infections.
- 2012 Researchers discovered a dozen new anti bodies that target the virus and can prevent 70% of the cells from infecting other cells in laboratories.
- 31% of new HIV cases each year are in people infected via heterosexual contact
Around 1900, a hunter got the AIDS virus from a Pan troglodytes chimpanzee.
Around 1900, a hunter got the AIDS virus from a Pan troglodytes chimpanzee.
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