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May 13, 2005
Babies R HIVers
by Staff
Babies made HIV news a second time this week when researchers took a giant step forward in determining how best to treat wee ones who have HIV. A long-term study concluded that positive infants started on an HIV combo at the tender age of 2 months fare better at the ripe, old age of 3 years than those who get meds later or not at all.
Diagnosing tykes has also vastly improved. The use of antibody tests long limited the ability to detect the true HIV status of an infant until as late as his or her first birthday—the time it could take to clear Mom’s positive antibodies and develop one’s own. Now, cheaper, more available viral-load tests can diagnose babies even before they learn to sleep through the night.
Between the earlier-treatment and better-testing news, the federal treatment guidelines are likely to change—allowing Moms and Docs a big sigh of relief.
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