A common misconception about HIV is that children and adolescents are not affected. In fact, 1.4 million children worldwide under the age of 15 have HIV. In the United States, 20% of new HIV infections occur in people 13-24 years old. This is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone ages 13-64 be tested at least once in their life, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends sexually active youth be tested each year. It’s so important to be tested and know if you have HIV, because knowing you have the infection is power. If you know you have HIV, you can receive treatment to stay healthy and you can prevent transmission of the infection to others.
What Is HIV?
HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system, making your body unable to off fight infections. In the US, the most common way of transmission is through unprotected sexual activity, but it can also be transmitted through sharing needles while using injection drugs. Until more recently, transmission also occurred during pregnancy and/or delivery from mother to child, however with better medication transmission to a child is rare.
What Is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the late stage of HIV. This means that the body’s immune system is badly damaged due to the HIV infection being untreated. A person has AIDS when their CD4 cell count drops below 200. In the United States, most people do not develop AIDS because of HIV medication, called antitretrovirals (ART). These medications stop HIV from making more of itself (replicating) and reduces the amount of HIV found in the body to levels that are undetectable (<50 copies/mL). The person remains healthy, and because the levels of HIV are so low, they cannot spread the virus through sexual intercourse to others
When Should Kids and Teens Get Tested?
Remember there is no risk for HIV transmission with hugging, kissing, and sharing utensils or toilet seats. If there is a chance that your child has come in contact with contaminated blood, bodily fluids, or needles/syringes, you should get them tested for HIV. All children born to mothers living with HIV, should be checked at birth. Infants who are breastfed by women who are living with HIV, should be routinely tested. It is recommended that teens who are sexually active or using injection drugs be tested annually.
If your child’s test comes back positive, there are many available options to maintain good health. Seek a doctor to begin early treatment.
How Can I Help Prevent HIV Infection for Myself or My Child?
Refraining from sexual activity is the best way to avoid HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). If you do have sex, there are several things you can do to protect yourself and prevent transmitting HIV to others. It’s important to know your partner(s) and their sexual history. Additionally, use a condom each time you have sex, the whole time you have sex. Do not share needles, syringes, or anything used to prepare drugs you inject. Ask your doctor or health care provider about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP is a pill you take one time each day to prevent HIV. Your doctor or health care provider can prescribe this medicine to protect you from getting an HIV infection. Preventing HIV is a part of routine health care and can be discussed with your child’s primary care provider.
What Can You Tell Me About Nationwide Children’s Hospital FACES Clinic?
The FACES clinic treats more than 400 patients living with HIV, providing comprehensive care to children, adolescents, and families.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital FACES Clinic offers free HIV and other sexually transmitted infection testing every day from 8:00-11:30am on Monday and Friday, and 8:00am-4:00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Tests are confidential and no appointment is needed. Take control of your family’s health and find out your HIV status in a matter of minutes.
Megan E. Brundrett, MD, is a physician at Nationwide Children's Hospital in the Section of Primary Care Pediatrics. She is an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
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