Joint Clinical Research Centre

ARV Treatment and Care for HIV+ Children

Objectives of the radio programme

1. To inform the audience about the care of HIV infected children
2. PCP prophylaxis
3. Treatment of Opportunistic Infections (OIs)
4. Antiretroviral therapy in children and how ART works in children
5. To encourage parents/caretakers to take their children for HIV testing so that those that are HIV positive can receive care early.
6. To inform the audience that ART greatly improves the lives of children if given according to the health workers’ instructions.
7. To encourage the audience to keep their children’s appointments for medical check up even when they are not sick.
8. To encourage the audience to get and confide in a friend/relative to assist them in looking after the HIV infected child.
9. To encourage the audience to get the community particularly the LC1 for women (Who is also in charge of health) involved in the care of the children in their community regardless of their HIV status.
10. To encourage the audience to demand health care for all their children at health facilities with(describe the health facility)

What can you expect when you bring your child to the clinic?

• The child will receive an HIV blood test or his/her blood will sent to another health facility for specialized testing.
• HIV infected children will receive PCP prophylaxis and ARV if indicated

What is Antiretroviral therapy (ART)?

• ART is treatment with drugs called antiretrovirals (ARVs) that stops the HIV virus from multiplying in the blood of the infected child. ARV therapy can help people with HIV stay healthy. ARVs have to be taken for life. Thus antiretroviral therapy is a life long treatment that requires commitment.
• These have been found to prevent many common childhood diseases and keep the child healthy
• In Uganda we give them for life.
• Multivitamins are also added to routine treatments to boost the child’s immunity

How do ARVs work?

• ARVs stop the virus from multiplying in the blood and significantly reduce the amount of the virus in the body. In this way the virus does not kill cells required by the body to fight against other diseases, which restores the body’s ability to defend itself against infections.
• ARVs and PCP prophylaxis dramatically reduce Opportunistic infections.
• ARVs prevent the development of the symptoms of AIDS
• Once on ARVs a person must stay committed to taking them every day as prescribed.

What don’t ARVs do?

ARVs DON’T CURE HIV and AIDS and they do not completely eliminate the virus from one’s body.

Are antiretroviral drugs safe in children?

Yes, when given in the right doses, the drugs have been found to be safe in children. Children always need to be taken to a health provider for regularly scheduled visits to adjust their ARV doses. Any side effects, which all drugs have - whether ARVs or not, will be noted and dealt with accordingly. Fortunately these are fewer in children.

Are there any drug preparations that are suitable for children?

Many of the ARVs have syrup formulations, which are suitable for infants and very young children. The older children are treated with tabs that are more convenient The syrups need careful handling to avoid contamination and measuring out doses, which your health provider can demonstrate to you. And some of them may require to be kept in fridge or a locally devised method of maintaining low temperatures your health work will provide or inform you of.

N.B The Healthcare provider will advise you on the best medicine for your child and on the best ways to administer that medicine

When do children start ART?

Every child below two (2) years proven to be HIV infected must be started on ARVs. For older children a health worker trained in HIV care, after evaluation of the child, will make the decision for the child to start ART. This evaluation usually includes blood tests.

How long will a child have to take ARVs once they start?

ARVs are taken everyday for life once started.

What is the role of a parent or caretaker of a child taking ART?

A parent or caretaker has many roles because the child is dependent upon them for all the aspects of their care, depending on his/her level of understanding of his/her illness.

• Caretakers need to take the child to the health unit for all the scheduled clinic visits, whether the child is sick or not.
• Caretakers should also take the child whenever the child is sick.
• Caretakers need to administer the drugs or supervise the child’s taking of his/her medication.
• Caretakers should ensure adequate nutrition for the child, as well as getting the child into all the existing health programmes like immunization, routine deworming etc.
• Caretakers must ensure that the child takes the medicines daily at the right time, in the right dosage.

NB: Giving ARVs to a child is a priority and must never be missed in any circumstances.

Why do Caretakers have to take the child to a health unit even when he or she is not sick?

Once the child has started ART, the health worker schedules follow up visits, at which: -

• The child is assessed for health problems including side effects of drugs
• The child’s growth is monitored. This reflects on the performance of the drugs.
• The child’s drug dose is adjusted according to the child’s growth. The doses are different for the different sizes of children, so at every visit, weight and height are taken to assist in determining the subsequent dose.