There are bWhat are the signs and symptoms of HIV in children? ywhich has been seen since the first year of life. This ranges from mild initial symptoms to symptoms of a severe infection that often recurs. GejaThis should be anticipated if the child is born to parents who have HIV infection and do not receive treatment.
According to data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, about 3 percent of people with HIV-AIDS in Indonesia are children under the age of 14. More than 90% of HIV-infected infants and children are contracted from their mothers during pregnancy, during delivery, or through breast milk.
Transmission can also be through contaminated needles, blood transfusions, or sexual violence from an HIV-infected adult. However, transmission of HIV to children as a result of this is rare.
Children infected with HIV do not necessarily have AIDS. However, if not treated properly and as early as possible, HIV can develop into AIDS which is dangerous and has a high potential to cause death.
The good news is that HIV-infected children who receive antiretroviral treatment (ART) regularly from an early age can still grow and develop well into adulthood. Therefore, it is important for parents to recognize the signs of HIV in their children from an early age, so that treatment can be given as early as possible.
Symptoms of HIV in Children
HIV infection in children transmitted by the mother during the womb or during childbirth will usually show signs within the first 12-18 months of the child's life. Even so, there are also children who do not show any symptoms until they are more than 5 years old.
HIV in children is also quite difficult to detect because the symptoms are similar to common viral infections, such as the flu. However, there are some symptoms that can be suspected as signs of HIV in children, including:
1. The child's weight does not increase
Signs of HIV in children are quite clear is the weight that is difficult to gain. Ideally, a one year old child will weigh three times their birth weight. However, HIV-infected children will usually look thin because their weight does not increase.
2. Children have developmental disorders
Children infected with HIV usually experience slower growth and development. This can be seen from the condition of the child who is difficult or late to sit, stand, walk, talk late, or the behavior of children who are not like other children his age.
3. Children often get sick
Children have immune systems that are still developing. But as children get older, their immune systems will get stronger. This should make the child can avoid the disease.
Be aware if the child often has a fever for more than 7 days, cough runny nose, swollen lymph nodes, abdominal pain, and ear infections that recur very often and last a long time. This could be a sign of a weakened immune system that may be caused by HIV infection.
4. Children often get infections
One of the most specific signs of HIV in children is that children often experience bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections due to their weak immune system. Infections in children or adults with HIV/AIDS are called opportunistic infections. These infections can be:
- Respiratory tract infection
Respiratory tract infections in children that often recur and are severe may indicate a weak body due to infection with the HIV virus. Respiratory tract infections in children can include pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis.
- Fungal infections in the mouth and throat
Also called oral thrush or thrush due to fungal infection. Signs of HIV in children can be seen from the appearance of white and red patches on the tongue, gums, and mouth.
Thrush in people with HIV can occur for more than one month, repeat, and do not go away with the administration of antifungal drugs. Thrush can also usually expand and develop into a fungal throat infection.
- Gastrointestinal infections Children with HIV infection are very susceptible to infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that are often experienced by children with HIV infection can be in the form of chronic diarrhea, infections of the liver and spleen, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever that often recurs or recurs.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection
Cytomegalovirus is an infection caused by a group of herpes viruses. This viral infection is more prone to occur in people whose immune systems are weak, such as people with HIV/AIDS. This infection can cause damage to the eyes, digestive tract, and lungs.
In addition to these infections, children with HIV are also susceptible to other serious infections, such as meningitis and sepsis.
Children who have a weakened immune system due to HIV infection can experience recurrence of infection up to 4 times in a period of 6-12 months. This infection should be less common if the child has a normal immune system.
5. Skin problems
Children who have HIV infection can also experience skin problems more often. These complaints can be in the form of a rash, bumps, sores, and itching on the skin that quickly spreads.
This skin disorder can be caused by various things, such as skin infections (eg fungal infections, bacterial infections, and herpes), dermatitis, to a skin disorder called Kaposi's sarcoma.
Each child with HIV infection may experience different symptoms or even have no symptoms at all. The appearance of the above signs also does not mean that the child is definitely infected with HIV. These signs may appear due to a weakened immune system due to other causes, such as poor nutrition or the side effects of certain medications.
But if you are in doubt, you should take your child to the doctor for a complete examination. The doctor will perform a physical examination and suggest an HIV test if your child shows symptoms of suspected HIV, has HIV-positive parents, or has a parent with a history of behavior that is at risk of contracting HIV infection.
If the test results show the child is HIV positive, the doctor will immediately give antiretroviral drugs to reduce the amount of the HIV virus and help strengthen the child's immune system.
HIV infection cannot be cured, but by regularly receiving treatment and undergoing regular health evaluations, children with HIV can live healthy lives.
Therefore, children who are suspected of having HIV or have been diagnosed with HIV need to get examination and treatment from a doctor as early as possible. To prevent infection, children infected with the HIV virus also need to be immunized. However, not all types of vaccines are suitable to be given to children with HIV disease. One of the vaccines that is not recommended to be given to children with HIV is the chickenpox vaccine.
