Globally, over 2.1m kids under 15 have AIDS

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Globally, over 2.1m kids under 15 have AIDS: UN

4 Apr 2008, 0240 hrs IST , Kounteya Sinha , TNN

NEW DELHI: Over 2.1 million children below 15 years are living with

HIV globally, most of them infected before their birth, during

delivery or while being breastfed.

While around 4.2 lakh children were newly infected in 2007, an

estimated 2.9 lakh children under 15 years died from AIDS the same

year. Young people, aged 15-24, accounted for about 40% of new HIV

infections in 2007.

The number of HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral

therapy (ART) to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their

infants increased by 60% from 2005 to 2006, but even then, only 23%

of HIV-positive pregnant women are receiving ARTs.

These are the findings of 'Children and AIDS: Second stock taking

report' — a review of the progress made and the challenges remaining

in four key areas: preventing HIV transmission from mothers to

children (PMTCT), providing paediatric treatment, preventing

infection among adolescents and young people and protecting and

supporting children affected by AIDS.

The report was launched by UNAIDS, WHO and Unicef on Thursday.

http://www.unicef.org/aids/index_43455.html

Reacting to the report, India's National AIDS Control Organisation

told TOI that efforts to protect women and children were being

continuously upscaled in the country.

According to Dr B B Rewari, NACO's ART consultant, India estimates

that 4% of the 2.6 million estimated HIV cases are children. " We have

identified 31,620 HIV positive children of which 9,171 have been put

on ART. The rest are constantly monitored and will be put on drugs

when they become eligible. At present, we have paediatric ART

formulations for 15,000 children donated to us by Clinton

Foundation, " Dr Rewari said.

India till November 2006 did not have a paediatric formulation of ART

doses which increased the lifespan of infected children by 10-15

years. Drugs were administered to children by dividing fractions of

adult formulations according to the child's age, which often led to

under- or over-dosage, causing resistance to the drug.

On November 6, 2006, Gandhi released the treatment protocol for

paediatric HIV cases under the National Paediatric HIV/AIDS

Initiative. " About 35% of the 2.6 million estimated HIV cases are

women of which 10% would require to be on ART. At present, 44,575

women are on ART. About 15%-35% of children get the infection from

their mothers. However, the risk is halved when mothers are given a

single dose of neviparine during pregnancy and children are given the

medicine within 72 hours of birth, " Dr Rewari said.

HIV infection progresses more aggressively in infants than in adults.

The immune system in childhood is underdeveloped and acquiring HIV

infection early in a child's life thwarts its further development.

Early treatment within the first few months of life can dramatically

improve the survival rate of children with HIV.

" Thousands of children lose their lives to AIDS every year, and

millions have lost parents and caregivers. Children must be at the

heart of the global AIDS agenda, " said Unicef executive director Ann

M Veneman.

" Important gains have been made in addressing treatment needs for

children and in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, " said

UNAIDS executive director Dr Piot.

The report said the majority of children living with HIV could be

saved by timely administration of paediatric ART.

kounteya.sinha@timesgroup

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Globally_over_21m_kids_under_15_hav

e_AIDS_UN_/articleshow/2924406.cms