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HIV Positive Babies Nov 4, 2005 Although a baby is born and tests HIV positive, does that mean she will definitely develop AIDS? |
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Response from Dr. Sullivan
 All babies born to HIV infected mothers will be HIV antibody positive because the mothers antibodies to all organisms[ viruses and bacteria] are transferred to the baby during the last trimester of pregnancy; these antibodies help to protect the baby from certain infections[not HIV] during the first few months of life; babies who are infected with HIV can be diagnosed by looking for HIV DNA or RNA using a very sensitive test called PCR[ polymerase chain reaction]; only one baby out of four is infected at the time of birth and additional babies may become infected during the period of breast feeding; JLS. |
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