E-Paper
HIV+ cases in kids rising
HEAD OF Pediatrics department at the Institute of Medical Sciences in Banaras Hindu University, Prof BD Bhatia, advised HIV positive women to avoid breast-feeding as it could infect their kids with the virus.
HEAD OF Pediatrics department at the Institute of Medical Sciences in Banaras Hindu University, Prof BD Bhatia, advised HIV positive women to avoid breast-feeding as it could infect their kids with the virus.
He was addressing a workshop on ‘Training of Physicians on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Awareness Programme’ organised by the National AIDS Control Organisation in association with the local chapter of the Indian Medical Association, here on Sunday.
Prof Bhatia said there were greater chances of transmission of the HIV virus among the kids who were breast-fed by an HIV positive woman. He said that kids get infected with HIV virus during labour pain and breast-feeding. “This is why most of the pediatricians prefer cesarean delivery of HIV positive cases than normal delivery,” he said.
Prof Bhatia said that HIV positive cases were on the rise among kids and on an average one fresh case of HIV positive was reported once in a fortnight in this region. He added that around 25 to 40 kids born to HIV positive women succumbed to infection before they became 18 months old. However, he added that this toll could be restricted to as low as two deaths through proper treatment.
He said each and every pregnant woman should go for an HIV test. As many as 14,000 fresh cases of HIV positive were reported per day across the world out of which a whopping 12,000 fresh cases were reported from the developing world, he said.
Another faculty member of the Pediatrics department at IMS-BHU, Dr Vinita Gupta also addressed the workshop. As many as 50 physicians of Varanasi and adjoining areas participated in the training workshop.
Earlier, president (elect) of UP chapter of IMA, Dr AL Yadav and State secretary of IMA, Dr OP Tewari inaugurated the programme. Secretary of IMA (Varanasi), Dr Sanjay Rai conducted the workshop.
