Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: shahnikunj on 21/03/2004 08:25:32
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Hello
There is an incident where unfortunately a member in our family who is pregnant has been tested HIV positive. The elder brother and wife have decided to take care of the baby and keep it away from the mother for three years.
Is it necessary that a baby born to HIV Positive mother should be away from his mother for 3 years so as to not to risk the baby get HIV.
Please answer
Nikunj Shah
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No way. But the mother should be on medication while pregnant to prevent the HIV from being passed on to the baby. Once the baby is here and healthy, universal precautions are adequate to protect the baby from HIV. And why is three years the magic number? HIV can be contracted at any time, therefore, universal precautions go on forever.
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Yeah, the big danger is going to be during delivery. After that the baby is at no greater risk than anyone else who comes into contact with the mother. I think they'd be doing both the baby and mother a great disservice by separating them for three years. If the mother has just been diagnosed, she may be a little overly paranoid at this point, but she will soon learn the changes she needs to make in her life to ensure that she does not pass the vrius on to others including her child. Luckily HIV is not a very easily spread virus.
Cut me some slack I'm new around here!
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Actually there is a risk - breast feeding.
HIV is one of a number of human retroviruses than can pass from mother to child via breast milk and breast feeding should therefore be avoided.
Is the relative that will care for the baby breast feeding another child and therefore intending to feed the new baby ?
Studies also show that to minimise the risk of peri-partum transmission the baby should be delivered by caesarian section.
Over and above those caveats, there is no reason that the mother and baby should be separated unless the aim is that the baby is to be adopted by the relatives.
Chris
"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
- Groucho Marx
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Hello
THanks for answering the same. the purpose of taking care is to ensure mental stability of the kid and ensureing he gets a better future in envent of any consequences.
Is there any maximum age of survival for the HIV Positive Candidate
At preset the person is of 27 years of age and is female
quote:
Originally posted by chris
Actually there is a risk - breast feeding.
HIV is one of a number of human retroviruses than can pass from mother to child via breast milk and breast feeding should therefore be avoided.
Is the relative that will care for the baby breast feeding another child and therefore intending to feed the new baby ?
Studies also show that to minimise the risk of peri-partum transmission the baby should be delivered by caesarian section.
Over and above those caveats, there is no reason that the mother and baby should be separated unless the aim is that the baby is to be adopted by the relatives.
Chris
"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
- Groucho Marx
Nikunj Shah
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Chris,
Shouldn't the mother be on AZT to help prevent transmission to the baby?
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There is no maximum age of survival. Depending on how long ago she was diagnosed, she should have sevearl years, each case is very different though, especially depending on what other disease she is exposed to.
When 900 years you reach look as good you will not, hmm??
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Recent trials have shown that the combined use of antiretroviral therapy, elective caesarian delivery (and not breastfeeding) can reduce the vertical transmission rate of HIV (between mother and child) to 1-2%
Antiretroviral therapy, preferably though not exclusively involving zidovudine (AZT), seems to be safe for the baby, although there have been cases of reversible anaemias.
Here's a link to a fairly recent paper addressing these issues :
http://jac.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/46/5/657
Chris
"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
- Groucho Marx
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Hello
I need the following conclusins
1. It is not advisable to keep the kid away fro the mother GOOD.
2. Is there any cure of making HIV Positive in to negative and how dangererous is it...
3.
Nikunj Shah
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1. Thats a personal decision. I would say it is bad.
2. No there is no such treatment. just treatments that prolong life.
3. ???
This is a signature.... AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!!
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I should think that the mother is devastated enough to know that she is infected without separating her from her child too. It's wonderful that universal precautions can enable mother and child to stay together.
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Hello
I need the following conclusins
1. It is not advisable to keep the kid away fro the mother GOOD.
2. Is there any cure of making HIV Positive in to negative and how dangererous is it...
3.
Nikunj Shah
-
1. Thats a personal decision. I would say it is bad.
2. No there is no such treatment. just treatments that prolong life.
3. ???
This is a signature.... AND YOU WILL LIKE IT!!
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I should think that the mother is devastated enough to know that she is infected without separating her from her child too. It's wonderful that universal precautions can enable mother and child to stay together.