‘Early diagnosis of HIV can reduce infant mortality rate’

Hegde added 33 per cent of HIV infant deaths happen within the first year of infection and 50 per cent in the second year. Currently,MSACS has registered 203 babies on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in the state.

According to the EID programme,a spot blood test of the child will be screened. If tested positive,a whole blood sample will be sent for further analysis. “Children who test positive early will be treated early and as a result,we can reduce the mortality rate. The HIV positive woman will be monitored and after delivery,will be sent with her child to the EID diagnosis centre for the tests,” Hegde said.

While state recorded figures have shown an overall dip in the number of fresh HIV cases this year,doctors feel mother-to-child transmission continues to be a source of worry and early diagnosis might help the situation.

“Children are asymptomatic below the age of 18 months. However,by that time,if the child is HIV positive,there could be possible damage done to brain development. Early detection as well as prophylactic treatment is extremely important in the case of HIV positive mothers,” said Dr Mamta Manglani,head of pediatrics at Sion Hospital.

A recent NACO report revealed that India has around 40,000 pregnant women who are HIV positive and 12,000 HIV infected children are born each year. Transmission of the virus from the mother to the child was said to be as high as 30 per cent.