1. Indian J Pediatr. 2010 Sep 3.

[Epub ahead of print]

Vertical Transmission of HIV-An Update.
Lala MM, Merchant RH.
CCDT/MSF/Wadia Group of Hospitals, D-9, ParkBay, 295 CST Road, Kalina, Santacruz
(East), Mumbai, 400098, Maharashtra, India, drmamathalala@yahoo.com.
One of the greatest successes in AIDS research to date has by far been the
discovery of successful interventions that interrupt the transmission of HIV fro
m
mother to child. It is however important to note that these successes have
occurred largely in countries with great resources and the least burden of
perinatal transmission of HIV. In the developing world wherein currently 95% of
vertical transmission of HIV occurs, it is highly condemnable that still every
minute an infected infant is said to be born in spite of the fact that vertical
transmission is largely preventable, mainly because translating knowledge into
practice is not always possible or feasible; This has led to a continuous growin
g
numbers of children with HIV, thereby making pediatric HIV a looming problem
rapidly draining the already burdened health care system of these countries. It
is the need of the hour to appropriately address the challenges to achieve zero
percent transmission of HIV from an infected mother to her child thereby giving
a
hope for an AIDS-free new generation worldwide.
PMID: 20814833 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]