HIV in children, know the symptoms, causes, and how to treat them

HIV / AIDS is still one of the major health issues in the world. According to the latest report from UNAIDS, there are around 37.9 million people around the world who are known to be HIV / AIDS positive at the end of 2018. Of these, 36.2 million are adults and 1.7 million are children under age. than 15 years. What about HIV cases in children in Indonesia? What causes HIV infection in children and what are the symptoms that appear in children who are infected?

Situation of HIV and AIDS cases in children in Indonesia

Various sources have concluded that the average number of new HIV and AIDS cases in children under 19 years of age continues to increase. The Kontan news site reports that the total cases of children affected by HIV / AIDS in Indonesia as of the end of 2018 are estimated at 2,881 people. This number increased from 2010, which was as many as 1,622 children.

Launching Kompas which refers to data from the Ministry of Health, the total cases consisted of 1,447 children aged 0-14 years who were infected with HIV and 324 other children who were positive for AIDS by the end of 2018.The same data also shows that there were 1,434 HIV cases in children aged 15-19 years and 288. other teenagers are AIDS positive.

The lack of access to information and socialization that HIV can also occur in children can be a barrier for them to get proper care. Check out the following review so that parents understand the ins and outs of HIV, as well as an effort to prevent more Indonesian children from becoming infected with HIV.

Causes of HIV in children

The cause of HIV disease is infection human immunodeficiency virus. This virus destroys CD4 cells (T cells), a type of white blood cell in the immune system that is specialized in fighting infection.

Humans produce millions of T cells every day to maintain immunity. But at the same time, the HIV virus also continues to multiply to infect healthy T cells.

The more T cells the HIV virus destroys, a person's immune system will be weaker and susceptible to various diseases. When the T cell count is very far below normal, HIV infection can develop into AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

The HIV virus itself is susceptible to being transmitted through certain activities that allow the exchange or transfer of body fluids from one person to another. However, body fluids that act as an intermediary for the spread of the virus are not arbitrary.

HIV is generally carried in the blood, semen (male ejaculatory fluid), pre-ejaculatory fluid, anal (rectal) fluid, and vaginal fluids. That's why HIV tends to be transmitted more easily through unsafe sex, for example, not using a condom.

So, what causes HIV transmission in young children? Transmission of HIV / AIDS to children can occur in the following ways:

1. Transmission from mother to child

The most common transmission route for HIV to young children and infants is through their mother (mother-to-child transmission) . According to the nonprofit Pediatric AIDS Foundation, more than 90% of cases of HIV transmission to children and infants occur during pregnancy.

Yes! A woman who was infected with HIV before or during pregnancy can pass the virus on to their child from the womb. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that a pregnant woman who is HIV positive has a 15-45% risk of transmitting the virus to her child in her womb through the placental cord.

The risk of transmitting HIV from mother to child can also occur if the baby is exposed to blood, broken amniotic fluid, vaginal fluids, or other body fluids that contain the HIV virus during childbirth.

Some other cases can also occur from exclusive breastfeeding because the HIV virus can be contained in breast milk. Therefore, doctors will usually prevent HIV sufferers from giving exclusive breastfeeding to their babies.

2. Transmitted from contaminated needles

In addition to transmission during pregnancy, the use of used syringes is also a possible way of transmitting HIV to children. This risk is particularly high among children who are injecting drug users.

The HIV virus can survive in syringes for approximately 42 days after first contact with the first user (who is HIV positive). Thus, there is an opportunity for a used needle to become an intermediary for transmitting HIV to many different children.

The blood containing the virus that is left on the needle can move to the body of the needle user and then through the injection wound.

3. Sexual activity

As explained above, HIV is susceptible to being transmitted through unsafe sex.

Risky sexual behavior is considered more "normal" in adults, but children and adolescents may also be involved. Launching Liputan 6, which refers to the results of a survey from Reckitt Benckiser Indonesia, at least 33% of young Indonesians have had sex without using a condom.

In addition, HIV transmission is also at risk for children who experience sexual violence from perpetrators who suffer from HIV (whether consciously or not).

Sexual transmission of HIV is prone to occur from contact with blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or pre-ejaculatory fluids belonging to an HIV infected person with open sores or abrasions on the genitals of healthy the opening of the penis), or anal tissue and anal muscle ring.

Marriage of minors with people who are at risk of having HIV also makes them more susceptible to infection.

4. Blood transfusion

The practice of donating blood using non-sterile needles can also increase the risk of HIV in children, especially in countries where poverty levels are still high. Children who receive donors from HIV positive people are also at risk for infection.

However, HIV transmission through donors is currently classified as rare and very avoidable because blood collection procedures have been tightened since the last few decades. Medical personnel who are responsible for donating will screen potential donors strictly to prevent things like this from happening.

Therefore, the risk of HIV transmission from blood donors to children is much smaller than transmission due to drug needles and transmission through the mother.

Symptoms of HIV in children

Not all children with HIV develop specific symptoms. Symptoms of HIV in children can be mild or severe depending on the stage of infection or the stage of HIV. Launching the Stanford Children's Health page, the symptoms that appear in children can also vary, depending on what age they first got the infection.

The vague symptoms of HIV can confuse parents with other similar signs of illness.

However, here are some of the symptoms of HIV in children in general based on their age.

1. Baby

Symptoms of HIV in children under five may be difficult to recognize. So if you or your male partner are at risk, it is recommended that you regularly check your little one. Yes! Fathers can pass HIV to their babies too.

Some of the symptoms of HIV in children under five that will appear, include:

• Stunted child development. For example, weight does not increase.
• Enlarged stomach due to swelling of their liver and spleen.
• Experiencing diarrhea with an uncertain frequency.
• Sprue due to a yeast infection in the child's mouth characterized by white patches on the cavity of the cheeks and tongue.

However, some of the symptoms of HIV in children at the age of five can also indicate that your child is suffering from other diseases, so it is better to make sure to see a doctor.

Two children

For children older than two years, their HIV symptoms can be divided into three categories, from mild to severe.

Mild HIV symptoms in school-age children:

• Swollen lymph nodes.
• The parotid glands (salivary glands located near the ear) swell.
• Frequent sinus and ear infections.
• Experiencing itching and there is a rash on the skin.
• Swelling of the stomach due to swelling of the liver and spleen of the child.

Moderate HIV symptoms in school-age children

• Thrush that lasts more than two months.
• Pneumonitis, which is swelling and inflammation of the lung tissue.
• Diarrhea.
• High fever that doesn't go away for more than one month.
• Hepatitis or inflammation of the liver.
• Chickenpox with complications.
• Kidney disorders or disease.

Severe HIV symptoms in school-age children

• Suffered from two serious bacterial infections in the past two years, such as meningitis or sepsis.
• Fungal infections of the digestive tract and lungs.
• Inflammation of the brain or encephalitis.
• Malignant tumor or lesion.
• Pneumocytis jiroveci, the type of pneumonia that most often occurs in people with HIV.

Some children may get herpes simplex and herpes zoster (shingles) infection as a complication of HIV symptoms. This is because HIV infection over time weakens the child's immune system, which in fact is not as strong as adults.

Therefore, it needs to be reminded again that the symptoms of HIV in children may also be the same as other diseases or medical problems. Always consult your doctor first if you suspect you are seeing symptoms of HIV in children to get a more definite diagnosis.

Treatment of HIV symptoms in children

There is no cure yet for HIV, both in adults and young children. However, diagnosing HIV in children must be done early so that your little one gets the right care.

Although there is no cure, HIV symptoms in children can be managed by administering ART (antiretroviral drugs). Children with HIV must routinely take these drugs for the rest of their lives to control HIV infection and increase their immune system.

Therefore, undergoing HIV treatment with ART in the end will allow children to live healthier and longer lives.

How to prevent the spread of HIV to children

The risk of HIV will increase based on the mode of transmission and how much viral load the host has the potential to transmit it to children.

So, is the chance that HIV transmission to children can be prevented? The simple answer is: yes.

HIV-positive adult women can reduce the potential for transmission by routine check-ups and continuing to take medication in a disciplined manner; as much as possible since before starting the pregnancy program. With proper medical treatment during pregnancy, childbirth, and during breastfeeding, the chance of HIV transmission to children can be reduced by as much as 5 percent.

HIV prevention in children can also be done by providing sex education as early as possible. Young children and adolescents need to understand HIV properly in order to protect themselves.

Guide your child to behave safely by sharing information about the prevention and dangers of HIV infection. Let them know how HIV infection occurs and some of the symptoms of HIV.

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