For how long should my baby take Nevirapine?
PREVENTION of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a subject which is under a lot of study because in Uganda, it is estimated that up to 25,000 children are infected annually through mother-to-child transmission.
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Dear doctor, I am HIV-positive and have just had a baby. For prevention-of-mother-to-child transmission, I took a tablet of Nevirapine as soon as I started experiencing labour pains and my baby too was given Nevirapine syrup soon after birth. I am also not breast-feeding the baby. However, a friend who is also HIV-positive and on anti-retroviral drugs gave birth at about the same time as I did and told me her doctor put her baby on Nevirapine for six weeks. Is the single dose of Nevirapine as effective as that given to my friend’s baby for six weeks? Should I also give my baby Nevirapine for a longer period?
Joyce
Dear Joyce,
PREVENTION of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a subject which is under a lot of study because in Uganda, it is estimated that up to 25,000 children are infected annually through mother-to-child transmission.
Studies have shown that Nevirapine, when given to children to prevent HIV for a longer time, is more effective than the single-dose drug. That may be why your friend’s doctor did that.
Some doctors even give children full anti retroviral therapy for up to six weeks to try and improve the chances of preventing HIV transmission from the mother.
It is not necessary to give your child Nevirapine now. However, you should have the baby checked early for HIV infection. Now we can know the HIV sero status of an infant within the first month of delivery so do not wait until the child is 18 months before doing an HIV test.
If the child is found to be HIV-positive, WHO now advises that such a child should be put on anti retroviral therapy as soon as they are diagnosed, to improve their chances of survival.
Lastly, it is important that all parents know their HIV status before trying to get children because HIV in children is difficult to manage.
In Uganda, we estimate that 110,000 children are infected with the virus. Of these, 55,000 have advanced AIDS and should be on anti retroviral drugs.
However, only about 13,000 are accessing them! We can only do better if we stop new infections; otherwise it is like trying to mop a flooded room while the tap is still running!
Send your questions on HIV to Health
Editor, The New Vision. P.O Box 9815Kampala or health@newvision.co.ug
Dear doctor, I am HIV-positive and have just had a baby. For prevention-of-mother-to-child transmission, I took a tablet of Nevirapine as soon as I started experiencing labour pains and my baby too was given Nevirapine syrup soon after birth. I am also not breast-feeding the baby. However, a friend who is also HIV-positive and on anti-retroviral drugs gave birth at about the same time as I did and told me her doctor put her baby on Nevirapine for six weeks. Is the single dose of Nevirapine as effective as that given to my friend’s baby for six weeks? Should I also give my baby Nevirapine for a longer period?
Joyce
Dear Joyce,
PREVENTION of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a subject which is under a lot of study because in Uganda, it is estimated that up to 25,000 children are infected annually through mother-to-child transmission.
Studies have shown that Nevirapine, when given to children to prevent HIV for a longer time, is more effective than the single-dose drug. That may be why your friend’s doctor did that.
Some doctors even give children full anti retroviral therapy for up to six weeks to try and improve the chances of preventing HIV transmission from the mother.
It is not necessary to give your child Nevirapine now. However, you should have the baby checked early for HIV infection. Now we can know the HIV sero status of an infant within the first month of delivery so do not wait until the child is 18 months before doing an HIV test.
If the child is found to be HIV-positive, WHO now advises that such a child should be put on anti retroviral therapy as soon as they are diagnosed, to improve their chances of survival.
Lastly, it is important that all parents know their HIV status before trying to get children because HIV in children is difficult to manage.
In Uganda, we estimate that 110,000 children are infected with the virus. Of these, 55,000 have advanced AIDS and should be on anti retroviral drugs.
However, only about 13,000 are accessing them! We can only do better if we stop new infections; otherwise it is like trying to mop a flooded room while the tap is still running!
Send your questions on HIV to Health
Editor, The New Vision. P.O Box 9815Kampala or health@newvision.co.ug