Maternal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]

ABSTRACT

It has now been shown clearly that materno-fetal transmission of HIV does occur and this can happen as early as the 15th week of gestation. The great majority of HIV infections in children have occurred through the transplacental route. A family is presented, where the mother acquired HIV from blood transfusion at delivery of the first baby. The first baby was HIV antibody positive with early signs of HIV infection. The second baby asymptomatic and HIV seronegative. The third child was seropositive and has developed AIDS-related complex [ARC]. The father of the children is well and seronegative. The mother of the family although asymptomatic herself, remains seropositive and possibly still infective. The first child appears to have been infected through breast milk or close maternal contact while the third child was infected transplacentally. It is suggested that pregnant women who fall into HIV risk groups should be offered the opportunity of being screened for HIV as well as women who have been transfused with untested blood in the Kingdom in the last 5 years. Some suggestions are offered for the prevention of HIV in children in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia