HIV cases rise ahead of World AIDS day
The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness |
The number of women infected with HIV has risen to 17.6 million, a report published in advance of World AIDS day, has revealed.
According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World Health
Organization the steepest increases have been in East Asia, followed
by Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The total number of people estimated
to be infected with the virus has also increased and now stands at 39.4
million, a 2.8 million increase since 2002.
WHO has also issued revised recommendations on the use of co-trimoxazole
prophylaxis in children infected with HIV. It says that co-trimoxazole
remains important even with increasing access
to antiretroviral therapy, because its use can improve survival, independently
of specific HIV treatment.
The new guidance states: “Prophylactic dosing with co-trimoxazole
for HIV infected children with any sign or symptoms suggestive of HIV
is a key intervention that should be offered as part of a basic package
of care to reduce morbidity and mortality.
“Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis is also a crucial potentially life-saving
intervention that should be given to all HIV-exposed children born to
HIV-infected mothers, in settings where HIV infection status cannot be
reliably confirmed in the first 18 months of life.”
World AIDS
day is on 1 December. |
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