HIV POSITIVE Women & Children

Helping Your Child Stay Healthy

A few things you can do to keep your child healthy

  • Protect him or her from new infections. Wash hands before eating or handling medicine and after using the toilet or changing diapers. Use lotion to keep dry skin from cracking and getting infected. Trim your child's nails to prevent scratches. Cover cuts, scratches, and rashes to prevent infection. If at all possible, advise daycare and/or school teachers that your child has an immune disorder and to please advise you immediately if another child has measles, mumps or other infectious childhood diseases. Unfortunately, in some situations, this may not be appropriate if disclosure means losing your childcare or will create problems in school.

  • Try to check daily: nails for fungal infections; skin for rashes, cuts, or bruises; and mouth for white patches indicative of oral thrush.

  • Brush teeth regularly or wipe the teeth and inside of baby's mouth with a soft wet cloth. Keep the mouth clean by giving an infant water after milk. Don't let babies go to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. Avoid sweets and give a daily vitamin with fluoride. Children who can't fight infections are more likely to get cavities.

  • Encourage a nutritious diet including protein, dairy (except when having diarrhea), vegetables, fruits and starches. If finances limit this, see if there is an AIDS food bank in your area. Some problems such as thrush, weight loss, or digestive problems will require special diets. Your doctor should be able to advise you on appropriate foods or refer you to a nutritionist. Although no nutritional studies have been published regarding children with AIDS and failure to thrive syndrome, special formulas with extra calories have been successful for children with failure to thrive caused by other factors (such as malnutrition or endocrine disorders). A new study scheduled to open soon will hopefully prove that this is true of children with AIDS also. One study in adults has shown that a good multi-vitamin taken daily can slow disease progression.

  • Although no specific data exist, many nutritionists suggest that daily exercise will help keep muscles toned and prevent muscle loss. Adequate rest is also important.

  • Know and understand the medication your child is taking: what is it's indication (purpose), directions and dosage, and any problems or side effects to watch for. Often the pharmacy can give you literature regarding new medications. Talk to a doctor or nurse before giving any new medication (even over-the-counter products) regarding drug interactions. Never stop a medication early without first discussing this with the pediatrician. If you are also positive, remember that your child may not react to a drug the same as you. For example, many women complain of severe side effects associated with AZT. However, for some reason, young children seem to tolerate AZT better than adults (and if your child has neurological disorders, AZT may be the only drug that will provide any benefit). Also, keep in mind that a patient who experiences side effects with one drug may not with another. Every single patient will respond differently to a particular therapy.

  • Childhood immunizations are vitally important to prevent "normal" childhood illnesses which could be life- threatening for an HIV-positive child. Note, however that your child should never be immunized with a live virus vaccine such as small pox.

  • Watch For Signs of Illness
    • Change in activity. Does your child tire easily, playing less or not at all, sleeping more, or irritable?
    • Fever over 101 degrees is cause for concern.
    • Respiratory problems. Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, faster breathing, or coughing.
    • Pain or discomfort. Pulling on ears, not using an arm or leg, walking funny, irritability. Although children don't lie about pain, they may not realize it is abnormal or may be unable to articulate it to you.
    • Changes in appetite. Sometimes children naturally go through phases. It can be difficult to know if a 3-year old isn't eating because she has HIV or because she's 3-years old. However, if you notice that your child also refuses his or her most favorite foods, this is cause for concern.
    • Vomiting or diarrhea. More than 3 bowel movements per day and any vomiting is good reason to contact your pediatrician.
    • Any loss of weight or failure to gain weight.
    • Skin problems such as sores, rashes, lumps, bumps, redness or swelling could just be a normal childhood bump or scratch but should be monitored closely. Redness, swelling, and/or warmth to the touch could be a sign of infection.
    • Frequent nose bleeds or bruising could suggest a disorder called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia or ITP. This is a low platelet count causing the blood to not clot properly.
    • Pale color or excessive fatigue could suggest anemia.
    • Slowed Development. Trouble walking or talking, and learning difficulties could be a sign of Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement.
    • White patches in the mouth are a sign of oral candidiasis or thrush. Your pediatrician should check to see if it is also in the throat. Left untreated, thrush can also infect the digestive tract.

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