Scientists in Mississippi, USA has completely cured a two and a half year old (2 1/2) girl child from HIV. This is the first case of a "functional cure" in an HIV-positive infant.
The child, a baby girl was born with the disease. The mother of the child was diagnosed with HIV only after she went into labor, putting hers as well as her baby�s life at risk. Doctor Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi had to take a call of judgment.
The doctor decided to give a heavy-duty and fast paced treatment to the baby; This was even before the baby was diagnosed with HIV. The treatment started just after 30 hrs of childbirth starting with inducing a three (3) drug blend
The child has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection. Although there is no warranty of the child remaining healthy throughout its life, it is unlikely the disease will recur again.
This treatment is being considered as a major breakthrough and will play a pivotal role in curing AIDS in small children especially in African countries where the number of such cases is outstandingly high.
"I just felt like this baby was at higher-than-normal risk, and deserved our best shot," Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi, said in an interview.
"it opens up a lot of doors" to research if other children can be helped, he said. "It makes perfect sense what happened."
In 2011, More than 300,000 progenies were born with HIV, commonly in poor countries where only a fraction of pregnant women who are infected are treated.
"We can't promise to cure babies who are infected. We can promise to prevent the vast majority of transmissions if the moms are tested during every pregnancy," Gay stressed.
The poor mother did not have any prenatal care and was unacquainted with her condition when she went to an emergency room in while in active labour. HIV test was conducted on-site and the result was positive. In these cases customarily a low dose of drugs are prescribed. As luck would have it, the minor health center did not have appropriate treatment. The clinic referred the pregnant mother to Gay's medical center where the baby was given an advanced treatment.
The response received by the child in first 18 months was nothing short of astounding. Thus, encouraging doctors to go ahead with the treatment.
"I just check for the virus and keep praying that it stays gone."
The mother's HIV is being controlled with medication and she is "quite excited for her child," Gay added.
[SOURCE: The Guardian]
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| Image Source: Wikipedia |
The child has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection. Although there is no warranty of the child remaining healthy throughout its life, it is unlikely the disease will recur again.
This treatment is being considered as a major breakthrough and will play a pivotal role in curing AIDS in small children especially in African countries where the number of such cases is outstandingly high.
 |
| Image Source: Wikipedia |
"it opens up a lot of doors" to research if other children can be helped, he said. "It makes perfect sense what happened."
In 2011, More than 300,000 progenies were born with HIV, commonly in poor countries where only a fraction of pregnant women who are infected are treated.
"We can't promise to cure babies who are infected. We can promise to prevent the vast majority of transmissions if the moms are tested during every pregnancy," Gay stressed.
The poor mother did not have any prenatal care and was unacquainted with her condition when she went to an emergency room in while in active labour. HIV test was conducted on-site and the result was positive. In these cases customarily a low dose of drugs are prescribed. As luck would have it, the minor health center did not have appropriate treatment. The clinic referred the pregnant mother to Gay's medical center where the baby was given an advanced treatment.
The response received by the child in first 18 months was nothing short of astounding. Thus, encouraging doctors to go ahead with the treatment.
"I just check for the virus and keep praying that it stays gone."
The mother's HIV is being controlled with medication and she is "quite excited for her child," Gay added.
[SOURCE: The Guardian]
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