It has been an observed trend considering HIV statistics that, the HIV in children is increasing by each passing year especially in the developing countries. There are various causes for the spread of HIV infection among the children. The HIV in children doesn’t allow them to lead a life more than their adult hood and most children die as a result of opportunistic infections caused by the virus.

As specified earlier that HIV in children is caused due to various reasons. They are:

From mother to child transfer:

During the birth of the child if the mother is HIV infected then the chances of the child born from such a mother increase many folds. The HIV in children in such cases is transferred in following ways:

• During pregnancy
• During labor
• During delivery
• During breast feeding the child.

By infected blood transfusion or injecting needles:

In case of some accident or illness if children are to be provided with blood or blood transfusion is to be carried out then the blood of a healthy individual should be used as if the blood contains HIV then HIV transfer takes place in children as well. Also the needles which are used for various vaccines or other purposes should be sterilized ones as if they are used by an HIV infected individual and then the same needles are used by a healthy child then too transmission of virus may take place.

In order to prevent HIV from spreading in children, steps are taken up by various government as well as non-government organizations to stop the HIV infections from occurring in children. They are:

• Spreading awareness by various programmes and other mediums:
  Various mediums like the media, programmes etc. are acting as an important tool in spreading awareness about the HIV so that the HIV in children decreases.
• By the invention of the antiretroviral drugs:
  These drugs are given to the children in order to protect them from the HIV infection so caused in them.
• By teaching the mothers and families of such children about the various after effects and problems caused by the virus.

HIV also affects children in a number of ways like the parents of some children die of HIV thus leaving them orphans. Also, in some household where the parents are infected with HIV children become the wage earners for the family which affects their childhood and also their education suffers.

Thus, HIV in children should be prevented and parents should be aware of the various treatments available and HIV infected mother should be careful about their child’s birth and should take care of every precaution.