HIV-exposed Uninfected Children: A Vulnerable and Neglected Population

摘要

PPTCT) under National AIDS Control Program (NACP) has significantly reduced the rate of transmission from mother to child to 2-3% [1]. As a result, a majority of these HIV-infected mothers are delivering HIV-exposed but uninfected children (HEU). Several factors — impact of perinatal exposure of HIV on immature immune system, exposure to pathogenic organisms from immuno-suppressed family members, in- utero exposure to antiviral drugs, nutritional challenges, and socioeconomic impact of HIV infection on their family — increase the vulnerabilities of these children. Consequently, these children have substantially increased morbidity and mortality, predominantly from infectious and nutritional causes as well as adverse neuro- developmental outcome as compared to children born to uninfected mothers [2].