Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research

Prevalence of pediatric HIV has not been well characterized. We evaluate the prevalence, risks and contributing factors to the spread of HIV in India. This manuscript aims to describe prevalence of Pediatric HIV infection in Eastern India. We want to provide data on burden of HIV positive children visiting a tertiary care center located in the city of Kolkata, East India. Data is provided for routes of HIV exposure and occupational background and HIV status of the parents of infected children. Background: Various studies in India have documented high prevalence of HIV infection in children. Nearly 20 million babies are born each year and the number of infected babies could be >50,000 per year. According to Solomon S et al in India the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women varies widely from state to state and figures range from 0.5% to as high as 4.7% as in Namakkal, a small village in Tamilnadu. Objective: To determine and characterize the prevalence of pediatric HIV/AIDS in India Methods: This is a two year retrospective review of patients from the (with 100 beds) pediatric outpatient unit of the Medical college and Hospital, Kokata, was undertaken to determine the prevalence of pediatric HIV/AIDS in East Kolkata (or in North India). Results: 3,669 pediatric patients were admitted to the hospital, 437(11.9%) tested positive for HIV, 234 were males, while 203 were females (m:f=1.15:1). Children under the age of five years accounted for 81.7% of the HIV positive children. Mother-to-child transmission occurred in 73.7% of cases was the major route of transmission of HIV. Two other common routes included the use of blood/blood products (21 patients), hairdressing implements due to punctures in 4.8% each, while sexual abuse/sex activities were the probable route in 3.8% others. Most mothers of HIV children were either housewives (45.3%), or petty traders, trade that is conducted on a small scale (10.4%). Conclusion: The prevalence of pediatric HIV/AIDS was high in Eastern india. The most common mode of transmission was mother to child. Programs to work on education of prevention of this mode of transmission should be implemented by proper detection of disease in mothers,adequate counselling and administration of HAART to prevent mother to child transmission of AIDS.