HIVdefine infected babies treated at the onset of birth were more likely to survive than those left untreated until they showed signs of illness or weakened immune system
define.
A study of 377 infants aged 6 to 12 weeks in South Africa found that if children were given immediate drug treatment, the mortality rate reduced by 75 percent and HIV progression by 76 percent. The main purpose of the study known as CHER Trail was to work out the usefulness of early therapy. It was aimed to examine whether early antiretroviral drug therapy would delay HIV progression and increase immunity levels.
The findings show significant improvement in survival rates. In cases where children received immediate treatment death rate fell to about 4 percent. In contrast, the mortality rate for children whose treatment was withheld until symptoms were detected was 16 percent.
Death rate in infants who got early medication was similar to that of those not infected with the HIV virus. Due to this finding, the trail was halted abruptly, and children assigned to receive delayed treatment were put on medication immediately.
Avy Violari, of the University of Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, lead author of the study, said, “We are hoping these results will have an implication in formulating guidelines all over the world.”
The results were so promising that officials in the United States, Europe and World Health Organization recommended the need to commence treatment in all infected infants.
Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infected Disease (NIAID), Anthony Faucer said, “The results of this trail could have significant health implications worldwide because these findings will cause experts to consider changes in standard of care in many parts of the world.”
This research has illuminated the need to streamline pediatric treatment strategies. The disease that attacks the immune system, generally affects the baby by maternal fetal transmission or breast feeding. Earlier, doctors followed an individual approach to treat HIV in infants. It was a dismal scenario. Before they could come to grips with the situation, more than one third babies died at home from pneumonia or gastroenteritisdefine.
Avy Violari further states, “Young infants are very different than adults or even children in their immune function and their susceptibility to other dangerous illnesses. That is why they need treatment immediately once diagnosed.”
Early treatment combats HIV sooner and has added advantages. Detection of the ailment in the primary stage protects the brain from HIV. There is a less chance of development problems in comparison to those children who do not get early medication.
Identification of children infected with AIDS is challenging, especially in developing countries. Early testing in new born babies is expensive and so is the drug used to suppress the virus. Right now, no vaccine is available and the only way to control HIV is by administrating the drug to both mother and child at the time of birth.
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, remains a major health problem for babies worldwide. In 2007, about 370,000 million kids were reported infected, and more than 33 million have fallen prey to this deadly virus.
Avy Violari feels that early treatment is not a cure for HIV in babies in developing countries. “It will be much easier to implement these findings in the West, where few babies are HIV infected. In many developing countries, many infants are not identified early enough or are identified too late or die before they even had an HIV test.”
The findings were reported in the National England Journal of Medicine.
Post new comment