|HIV Positive Babies
Nov 4, 2005
Although a baby is born and tests HIV positive, does that mean she will definitely develop AIDS?
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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