How would one know if a baby born to an HIV positive woman has the HIV infection?
Most children born to HIV positive mothers carry HIV antibodies from the mother in their blood. These take about fifteen months to disappear. Only after that will an HIV antibody test show whether the baby is, in fact, infected with the HIV, or not. In less developed countries, the chance of a baby born to an HIV infected mother being infected is about 40 percent. But today there are antiretroviral drugs available which can be given to the pregnant woman and babies to prevent the infection in the babies. As an alternative to pregnancy, women living with HIV could also be counselled to adopt a baby.
Most children born to HIV positive mothers carry HIV antibodies from the mother in their blood. These take about fifteen months to disappear. Only after that will an HIV antibody test show whether the baby is, in fact, infected with the HIV, or not. In less developed countries, the chance of a baby born to an HIV infected mother being infected is about 40 percent. But today there are antiretroviral drugs available which can be given to the pregnant woman and babies to prevent the infection in the babies. As an alternative to pregnancy, women living with HIV could also be counseled to adopt a baby.
Most children born to HIV positive mothers carry HIV antibodies from the mother in their blood. These take about fifteen months to disappear. Only after that will an HIV antibody test show whether the baby is, in fact, infected with the HIV, or not. In less developed countries, the chance of a baby born to an HIV infected mother being infected is about 40 percent. But today there are antiretroviral drugs available which can be given to the pregnant woman and babies to prevent the infection in the babies. As an alternative to pregnancy, women living with HIV could also be counselled to adopt a baby.
