HIV In Babies: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

Timely testing and treatment can prevent the transmission of HIV from the mother to her baby.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Ashraf Kasem, MS Dr. Ashraf Kasem Dr. Ashraf KasemMS MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on TwitterFollow MomJunction on YouTube Specialty: Pediatrics and Neonatology Experience: 10 years
Written by , BDS, CLC Dr. Ritika Shah BDS, CLC Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Dental and General Health, LactationExperience: 10 years
Edited by , BSc, MBA Rohit Garoo BSc, MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Baby Health and WellnessExperience: 9 years
Fact-checked by , MSc (Biotechnology) Vidya Tadapatri MSc (Biotechnology) Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Health and WellnessExperience: 5 years
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HIV In Babies

Image: ShutterStock

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gives rise to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV in babies or Pediatric HIV is also known as congenital HIV or neonatal HIV. The virus may cause opportunistic infections in babies by attacking and weakening their immune system (1) (2).

Babies acquire congenital HIV from their mothers during pregnancy, labor, or breastfeeding. The spread of the disease is called vertical transmission or perinatal transmission of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), out of the 1,061,482 people with HIV diagnoses at the end of 2019, one percent were identified with perinatal HIV. Most HIV infections in babies are caused by vertical transmission (3).

Read this post to learn about signs, causes, diagnosis, management, and prevention of HIV in babies.

In This Article

Key Pointers

  • Babies infected with HIV usually have no symptoms for the first two to three months.
  • Lack of energy, weight loss, persistent fevers, etc., are a few early signs of HIV infection in babies.
  • Babies with HIV need antiretroviral therapy (ART) for their entire life.

Signs Of HIV Infection In Babies

Infants infected with HIV most often do not have symptoms for the initial two to three months. Once the symptoms develop, the way they manifest varies from one baby to the other. Early signs of HIV in babies may include the following (1) (2).

  • Lack of energy
  • Weight loss and failure to grow
  • Frequent and long lasting fevers
Early signs of HIV in babies may include frequent fever

Image: Shutterstock

  • Sweats
  • Repeated or persistent yeast infection (candidaiA yeast genus capable of causing fungal infections in babies ) in the mouth
  • Inflamed lymph nodes
  • Inflamed salivary glands
  • Enlarged liver
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Repeated ear infections
  • Repeated sinusitisiA condition in which the tissues that line the sinus (hollow, air-filled spaces in the skull) get swollen or inflamed
  • Repeated upper respiratory tract infections
  • Developmental delays
  • Diarrhea
  • Recurrent herpesiViral infection marked by the formation of sores and blisters in and around the mouth and genital regions  infections
  • Recurrent bacterial infections

protip_icon Quick fact
HIV doesn’t transfer to infants through sweat, saliva, or casual contact with an infected person (3).

Diagnosis Of HIV In Babies

Virological testing is essential to confirm the diagnosis of HIV in babies

Image: Shutterstock

Babies born to HIV-infected mothers always have a positive antibody test at birth because the HIV antibody passively transfers across the placenta. Virological testingiA screening test used to identify HIV infection in infants is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Viral testing for HIV is done in babies at the following ages.

  • 14 to 21 days
  • One month
  • Four months

If two tests come back negative, the infant does not have an HIV infection, and if two tests show positive results, the baby has an HIV infection. Babies who fall under the high-risk category for HIV transmission might be tested before the infant is 48 hours old, followed by testing at the requisite ages (1) (4).

In most cases, the diagnosis of HIV in infants is made within the first five months. Some children may be diagnosed later. CDC noted that about 645 children were diagnosed with HIV between 2014 and 2018. Among these, 200, or 31%, were diagnosed in the first five months. Overall, most children with the virus are diagnosed within 23 months of age in the United States.

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Diagnoses of HIV infection among US babies (2014-2018)

Source: Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2018: Children Aged < 13 Years; CDC

Prevention And Medications For HIV In Babies

Dr. Anthony Puopolo, California-based chief medical officer at LifeMD and founder of Integrated Medical Wellness Group, says, “Vertical transmission of HIV can be prevented through maternal testing, effective control of the maternal infection, prenatal antiviral therapy as well as treating the mother and infant during labor and the neonatal period, and avoiding breastfeeding.”

Treatment for pregnant women identified as HIV-positive can prevent the transmission of infection to their babies. The treatment plan for HIV-positive pregnant women may consist of the following modalities (1).

  • Antiretroviral therapyiA treatment modality for HIV which uses a combination of medications to inhibit replication of the virus (ART) is the choice of treatment for HIV/AIDS.
  • If a woman tests HIV-positive during pregnancy, a three-drug regimen of ART will be given.
  • ART drugs are low-risk for the baby in the womb. However, the pregnant woman may have an ultrasound in the second trimester to assess the baby’s development.
  • If a woman is diagnosed with HIV infection at a time close to her labor, intravenous ART drugs are administered immediately. This can reduce the risk of transmission by 10%.
Administering intravenous ART drugs to mother will reduce the risk of transmission

Image: Shutterstock

A C-section may be advised to reduce the risk of transmission from the birth canal (4). The following treatment plan is followed for babies born to HIV-positive babies (1).

  • Infants born to HIV-infected mothers are administered ART drugs within six to 12 hours after birth.
  • The doctor may prescribe one or more antiretroviral drugs for six weeks after birth.

protip_icon Quick fact
Zidovudine is an FDA-approved drug for prevention and treatment in infants older than four weeks. Abacavir combined with lamivudine or emtricitabine may be used for babies above three months (10).

HIV-positive women should refrain from breastfeeding their babies. In addition, mothers who are taking HIV medicines should also avoid breastfeeding (1).
All women trying to conceive should get themselves and their partners tested for HIV.

Image: Shutterstock

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all women trying to conceive should get themselves and their partners tested for HIV to ensure maternal health and fetal health. If either of the partners has HIV, the infected partner should take the HIV medicine daily to prevent transmission and stay healthy (5). Today, there are many medical treatments available that slow down the progression of the disease and the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system (4).

Long-Term Outlook For HIV-Positive Infants

Early diagnosis and neonatal care are critical for babies with HIV infection. Babies with HIV infection will need ART for their entire life. ART drugs do not cure the infection but slow down HIV replication, making it easier for the immune system to suppress the virus. The medicines should be taken as prescribed for them to work well. Parents must work closely with healthcare providers to monitor and adjust treatment as needed, as consistent care can help most babies with HIV/AIDS lead a normal lifespan.

protip_icon Point to consider
Protect babies with HIV from infections, provide them adequate nutrition, prompt care for skin injuries, and a balance of play, rest, and relaxation, for a healthy life (11).
Babies with HIV infection will need ART for their entire life.

Image: Shutterstock

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long can a person born with HIV live?

With proper treatment, people with HIV may not develop AIDS-related complications and may live a near-normal lifespan (7).

2. What is nevirapine used for in babies?

Nevirapine is an antiretroviral drug used to treat HIV infection. It helps reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV during pregnancy (8).

3. Why do all babies born to HIV-positive mothers initially test positive?

Babies are usually tested thrice, from birth to 14 days; 1 to 2 months, and; 3 to 6 months of age. Babies get maternal antibodies during pregnancy, and the initial HIV test may react to those HIV antibodies. A second test may be required for confirmatory results (9).

If you are HIV-positive, it is important to take your doctor’s advice before getting pregnant. HIV-positive mothers may transmit the infection to their babies during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. This infection could gradually progress into AIDS. Preventing viral transmission of HIV infection could protect the babies. In case of any doubt, it is better to consult your doctor and get the much-required guidance on the vaccines and other aspects related to HIV in babies. It is also important to take the best care of yourself after delivery for your baby’s well-being.

Infographic: Symptoms Of HIV Infection In Babies

Neonatal HIV infection causes the immune system to malfunction, making the infant susceptible to opportunistic infections. However, it is important to note early signs and symptoms as it improves the success rate of available treatments. The infographic below summarizes such manifestations.

notable symptoms of hiv infection in babies (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

An HIV-positive baby from Mississippi has achieved freedom from infection! Witness the incredible tale of optimism and strength in this captivating video.

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

1. HIV/AIDS in pregnant women and infants; U.S. National Library of Medicine
2. Congenital HIV; Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
3. Congenital HIV Symptoms & Causes; Boston Children’s Hospital
4. AIDS/HIV in Children; Stanford Children’s Health
5. HIV and Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
6. Evaluation and Management of the Infant Exposed to HIV in the United States; American Academy of Pediatrics
7. HIV and AIDS; National Health Service, UK
8. Nevirapine use to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Canada; National Library of Medicine
9. Testing HIV Positive During Pregnancy; DC Health
10. Neonatal HIV; U.S. National Library of Medicine
11. HIV Home Care; Stanford Children’s Health

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Dr. Ashraf Kasem
Dr. Ashraf KasemMS
Dr. Ashraf Kasem is a pediatric specialist with 10 years experience in pediatrics, neonatology and pediatric nutrition. Having a pediatrics practice in Mansoura, Egypt, he is an influencer in Egypt and Arabic countries with more than 500,000 followers on his Facebook page.

Read full bio of Dr. Ashraf Kasem
Dr. Ritika Shah
Dr. Ritika ShahBDS, CLC
Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College.

Read full bio of Dr. Ritika Shah
Rohit Garoo
Rohit GarooBSc, MBA
Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

Read full bio of Rohit Garoo
Vidya Tadapatri
Vidya TadapatriMSc (Biotechnology)
Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five years of experience. She has done certified biotechnology-related training programs under renowned organizations such as Centre For Cellular & Molecular Biology and Department of Biotechnology.

Read full bio of Vidya Tadapatri
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