Children with HIV

Every day more than one thousand children are newly infected with HIV. As well as more than half of these will die with AIDS as the lack of treatment. There are millions of children those are indirectly affected with HIV infection because of their families and communities. However, it is possible if the proper treatment for HIV is provided to them. The treatment facilities should be provided to them. The enough investment should be done in such HIV programs. The Education of HIV can be one of the best options for HIV awareness among the young children

. Some voluntary organization should participate in such programs. They can work with the government organization that would be beneficial for preventing the HIV infection in children. Stigma and discrimination should be avoided as they create negative feelings in infected people. The infected people should be treated in well manner. Their problems should be considered and should be solved in effective manner. The number of children with HIV can be lessened if the treatment is taken by a mother during her pregnancy.

The HIV infected children's number are given below these numbers are described by UNAIDS as under-15s. These children are affected directly by AIDS

• There were 2.5 million children around the world who were living with HIV at the end of 2009
• In 2003 it estimated that 400,000 children became newly infected with HIV
• In 2009 1.8 million people died because of AIDS. Out of them one in seven were children. Every hour almost thirty children die as a result of AIDS
• Most of the children who are infected with HIV and living with it, about nine out of ten from the sub-Saharan Africa. The region has estimated as AIDS affected region in the world.

How children get infected with HIV infection (Children with HIV)

Mother-to-child transmission

It is evaluated that nine out of ten children were infected because of their mothers during the period of pregnancy, while delivering the baby, and breastfeeding. If treatment is not taken during pregnancy, almost fifteen to thirty percent children will become infected with HIV. Moreover, five to twenty percent will become infected through breastfeeding. In developed countries or high income countries mother-to-child transmission is comparatively rare because there are certain treatment programs available. It means with enough funds, trained staff and resources, it could possible to avoid the infection of HIV and deaths because of the HIV.

Sexual transmission

Sexual transmission is not responsible for a high amount of child infection. However, in some countries children get sexually activated at early age. This can be result in the transmission of HIV among the children particularly where use of condom is low and the rate of HIV prevalence is high. It is reported that in sub-Saharan Africa twelve percent of young males (aged 15-19) and sixteen percent of young females had sex before they were fifteen in the year 2007. These figures are thirty and sixteen in Lesotho correspondingly. In Kenya the figures were thirty one and fifteen percent. Sexual abuse and rapes is one of the causes of spreading out the HIV infection of HIV among children. In some of the parts of Africa, it is believed that having sex with a virgin cures the AIDS. Because of the myth children are raped. Children are getting involved in sex work that is also the reason of putting them at high risk of HIV infection.

How to prevent HIV in children

Prevent mother-to-child infection

A child can be prevented from HIV infection if antiretroviral drugs are given to the mother during the pregnancy. This approach reduces the chances of getting infected with HIV of the child. However, it fails in the lower income countries as there are no facilities or lack of facilities of the treatment. Only half of the infected women got drugs to protect their babies from HIV infection in lower income countries in 2009.

Blood safetyBlood safety can avoid the risk of getting infected with HIV. The contaminated or dirty needles should be avoided. The new and clean needles should be used. Safer injecting practices should be adopted.

The numbers of children with HIV have been increasing, but it can be controlled if a mother takes certain precautions during a pregnancy.