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How to prevent HIV/AIDS infection?
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Prevention of HIV infection
The anti-epidemic regime for HIV infection is the same as for hepatitis B. In pediatrics, the system of preventive measures should be built taking into account the fact that children usually become infected with HIV in high-risk families (AIDS patients, drug addicts, bisexuals, etc.). In this regard, the main preventive measure can be considered the global fight for a healthy lifestyle, as well as educational activities to combat prostitution, drug addiction, sexual perversion, etc.
Of great preventive importance are clinical and serological monitoring of blood donors, the use of disposable instruments, monitoring the safety of hemodialysis systems, etc.
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
Chemoprophylaxis of HIV transmission from mother to child is carried out during pregnancy, during childbirth and in the newborn.
The most successful results are achieved by carrying out all three components of chemoprophylaxis. However, if any of the components cannot be carried out, this is not a reason to refuse the next component.
Full chemoprophylaxis reduces the risk of infection in a child from 28-50 to 3-8%.
Vaccination of children born to HIV-infected women
All children born to HIV-infected mothers can be vaccinated with killed vaccines (DPT, ADS and against hepatitis B) on schedule, regardless of the severity of clinical manifestations and immunological changes. However, it should be taken into account that the immune response to some vaccines or their components may be reduced. In such cases, an additional booster dose of the vaccine is recommended.
In addition to calendar inactivated vaccines, specific immunization is indicated against diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (from 3 months), pneumococcal infection (after 2 years), meningococcal infection (from 1 year), influenza (from 6 months), and hepatitis A (in accordance with the vaccine instructions).
Children with an uncertain HIV status and HIV-infected children with clinical manifestations and immunodeficiency are given inactivated polio vaccine three times according to the schedule 3; 4.5; 6 months with revaccination at 18 months, 6 and 14 years. Inactivated polio vaccine should also be given to children living in a family with an HIV-infected person.
HIV-infected children are recommended to be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella. Instead of the domestic measles vaccine, foreign combined vaccines against three infections (Priorix MMR II, etc.) can be administered.
Children with clinical manifestations of HIV infection in the AIDS stage and/or severe immunodeficiency (the number of CD4+ lymphocytes is less than 15% or less than 500 cells/μl in a child of the 2nd year of life) may have insufficient antibody titers, which serves as a basis for administering the 2nd dose of the vaccine as soon as possible (after 4 weeks). In case of a pronounced deficiency of the cellular component of immunity, vaccinations with live vaccines are not carried out.
The question of vaccination against tuberculosis of a child born to an HIV-infected mother is decided after the final diagnosis is established at the age of 18 months.
BCG is contraindicated in children with manifest stages of HIV infection (clinical categories B, C according to CDC) and/or immunodeficiency (2nd and 3rd immune categories according to CDC; leukopenia, lymphopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia of any degree).
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