By: Rosemary Olivero, MD, FAAP, FPIDS
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). While there is no cure for HIV, early diagnosis and
treatment are very effective at keeping people healthy. In addition, there are things you can do to prevent getting HIV. Read on to learn more about HIV and AIDS and how to keep you and your children healthy.
What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV is a virus that causes damage to the body's immune system. The immune system is the body's way of fighting infections. When the immune system does not work well, the body cannot fight off many serious illnesses.
The damage caused by HIV can occur over months, as sometimes happens when infants have HIV. In adults with HIV, the damage can occur more slowly. People with HIV are said to have AIDS when their immune systems are severely damaged or when HIV-related infections or cancers occur.
Because it can take years for symptoms to develop, many people do not know they have HIV. During this time, they can unknowingly spread the virus to others. Most people with HIV appear healthy. You cannot tell just by looking at people whether they have HIV. A blood test is the only way to be sure.
How does HIV spread?
HIV can be spread in the following ways:
By unprotected sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral) with a person who has untreated HIV. Both males and females can spread HIV.
Through contact with an HIV-infected person's blood. This can happen when sharing syringes or needles, accidentally getting stuck by a needle with a person's fresh blood on it, or contact with other body fluids containing blood.
To a baby by a parent with HIV during pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Breast milk from nursing parents with untreated HIV.
Through blood or blood products from blood transfusions, organ transplants or artificial insemination. This is very rare because today donated blood, sperm, tissue and organs are routinely screened and tested for HIV.
You
cannot get HIV by:
Shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV
Sitting next to or playing with a person with HIV
Eating food prepared by a person with HIV
Sharing a glass, utensil or plate with a person with HIV
Also, you cannot get HIV from:
The air
Donating blood
Sharing bathrooms
What kids need to know about HIV and AIDS
Teach your children the facts about HIV and AIDS, including how HIV is not spread.
Young children will not be able to understand all of the information, but they should know:
To never touch anyone else's blood.
To never touch needles or syringes. If they find one in the garbage or on the ground, they should tell an adult.
Teens and young adults should know about:
Abstinence. The most effective way to protect themselves against HIV and other
sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to prevent pregnancy is to not have any type of sex (vaginal, anal or oral). Let them know that many young people—more than half of all teens—delay sex until they're older.
(See "Deciding to Wait: How to Know If You're Ready for Sex.")
Condoms. The best way to lower the risk of getting HIV and other STIs, if they are sexually active, is to use a latex condom and limit the number of sexual partners they have.
In addition to condoms, teens also need to know about other types of
types of birth control. Just make sure they know that other forms of birth control will
not protect them from HIV or other STIs. If teens are sexually active, encourage them and their partners to be
tested for HIV and STIs before and during sexual activity.
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Drug use. Drugs that are injected with needles are the riskiest because the needle or syringe can spread blood from one person to another. Using other drugs like
alcohol,
marijuana or "club" drugs can also increase the risk of getting HIV. This is because drugs affect a person's judgment and can lead to risky behaviors, like having sex without a condom or with multiple partners.
Who should be tested for HIV?
Anyone involved in the risky behaviors listed previously should get an
HIV test. Keep in mind, a negative test does not mean a person is safe if the risky behaviors took place only a few months before the test. This is because it can take several weeks for the HIV test to become positive.
Symptoms that may suggest a need for HIV testing:
Persistent
fevers
Loss of appetite; poor weight gain or unexplained weight loss
Frequent
diarrhea
Swelling of the
lymph nodes (glands) that does not go away
Extreme tiredness or lethargy that does not go away
White spots in the mouth
Recurring or unusual infections
How is HIV treated?
There is no cure for HIV. However, there are several medications that treat HIV and keep people living with HIV healthy and from developing AIDS. These medicines also prevent the virus from spreading to sexual partners and babies.
Starting treatment for an HIV infection early (before there are symptoms of AIDS) is most effective at preventing symptoms and keeping people healthy for their lifetime. That's why it is so important to get tested to know if you have an HIV infection. If you do, you can start effective medicines early and remain on them while seeing an HIV specialist.
Finding the right HIV treatment plan for kids
Pediatricians work closely with families to find the right treatment plan—one that fits the child's age, size and lifestyle. For children and teens, HIV care is becoming more convenient and well-tolerated. Doctors are working to make medications easier to take—like chewable tablets, dissolvable pills or even long-lasting shots. Pediatricians can help families understand their options and stick with a treatment plan that works best for their child.
What is antiretroviral therapy (ART)?
Antiretroviral therapy, or ART, is a combination of medicines that works to lower the amount of HIV in the body. ART doesn't cure HIV, but it keeps HIV from hurting the immune system. This, in turn, allows children, teens and adults with HIV live long, healthy lives. ART also reduces the risk of passing HIV to others.
For kids and teens, ART usually involves taking a pill every day. Some newer treatments are even more convenient. For example, there are now long-lasting ART shots for older teens.
If a pregnant person has HIV, starting treatment right away can greatly reduce the chance of passing the virus to their baby. Newborns may also need medicine for a short time after birth to stay protected. The sooner a child or teen begins ART after being diagnosed, the better their chances of staying healthy for their life.
Remember
HIV and AIDS are important issues to think and talk about. Knowing the facts about HIV and AIDS is the best way to keep you and your family healthy. If you need more information, talk with your child's doctor.
More information
About Dr. Olivero
 Rosemary Olivero, MD, FAAP, FPIDS, a former member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric and Adolescent HIV, is lead author of the policy statement, "Increasing Access to Antiretroviral Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV in Infants, Children, and Youth in the United States." She is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Human Development at Michigan State College of Human Medicine. At Helen DeVos Children's Hospital of Corewell Health, she is the Section Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, the Medical Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship, and the Director of HIV Clinical Services.
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