Emerging pediatric problem: HIVchildren born to HIV+ mothers. who received antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy
The significance of present research relies upon an increased number of HIV- children born to HIV+ mothers. Children whose mothers received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and whose blood was tested two times by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which did not discover the HIV provirus, are considered to be HIV-, i.e. healthy. However, postneonatal mortality in such children was 5,83 times higher than in healthy pediatric population, they ^also showed lower anthropometric data, retardation in neuropsychic development, protein-energy malnutrition, anemia and immunosuppression of unknown etiology. The aim of this work was to demonstrate, that increase in pediatric population with immunological failure associated with prenatal exposure to HIV/HAART, represents a new pediatric problem, whose influence on future public health should not be underestimated. The article describes the case of lethal respiratory viral infection (ARVI) in a pediatric patient born to the HIV+ mother, but without confirmed HIV infection. At the same time, immunodeficiency state in this patient had developed long before ARVI onset and without external provocative conditions. The results of anatomico-pathological and pathohystological study demonstrated a picture of an early stage of HIV. It is suggested, that not only HAART but also activated endogenous retroviruses affect children immune system. Such children should be placed under supervision in a risk group until they reach adult age.