Immediate access to antiretroviral therapy is important in children living with HIV

• Main Authors: Sangeeta Das Bhattacharya, Bikas K Arya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2016-01-01
• Series: Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
• Subjects: Access; antiretroviral therapy; HIV; immune response; vaccines
• Online Access: http://www.jfmpc.com/article.asp?issn=2249-4863;year=2016;volume=5;issue=4;spage=860;epage=862;aulast=Bhattacharya

This article reviews a case of a child with perinatal HIV followed for 30 months during a prospective cohort study on pneumonia prevention in HIV-infected children. The point of this case report is to illustrate how delayed access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected children impacts immunization response and growth. Given the WHO's early release guideline changes on ART recommendations and the expected full revised guidelines coming out this year, this article is a timely discussion on the need for access to ART for HIV infected Indian children regardless of CD4 count.